Shostakovich - Preface to the Complete Edition of My Works, Op. 123 - Derek S. Henderson, bass

The Preface was composed in 1966 in preparation for Shostakovichs 60th birthday celebrations. It begins with a paraphrase of Pushkins The Story of a Rhymer, about the impermanence of artistic creation, followed by a list of some of the composers official honours. However, Shostakovich is playing a joke on the Soviet authorities. On its surface the music resembles the popular Russian style, but accents on unimportant words, abrupt dynamic and rhythmic changes, and other musical techniques subvert its meaning and make a mockery of the music. When stating his signature melodically, Shostakovich uses notes whose letter-names spell his initials. Later, in the list of official titles, he similarly spells out USSR and RSFSR in musical notation, but that quickly gives way to a repetition of the Shostakovich signature theme followed by its transposition, asserting the triumph of artistic genius over stifling bureacracy. The Soviet authorities were, unsurprisingly, slow to get the joke, but the Preface only received two more performances before they caught on and banned its performance and publication.

Translation:
I scribble a page with a single breath;
I hear with an accustomed ear the jeers;
then tear to pieces all the worlds ears;
then get published and sink into oblivion poof!
Such a preface could have been written
not just to the complete collection of my works,
but also to the complete collection of the works of many,
very, very many composers,
not just Soviet but also foreign.
And here is the signature:
Dmitri Shostakovich.
Peoples artist of the USSR.
Also very many other honourable titles.
First Secretary of the Union of Composers of the Russian Federal SSR.
Ordinary Secretary of the Union of Composers of the USSR.
And also many other highly responsible commitments and posts.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shostakovich
• Derek Henderson
• bass
• song
• Russian