Music History - Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

The video explores Dmitri Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, composed during a tumultuous period in Soviet Russia. It highlights the political pressures Shostakovich faced, particularly after a critical Pravda article, and how these influenced his work. The video delves into the symphony's structure, its reception by both the public and Communist Party, and its lasting impact. It also touches on the contrasting music ideologies in Soviet Russia and Shostakovich's navigation through them.

What year was Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony premiered?

• 1938

• 1935

• 1936

• 1937

Which group believed music should evolve into something new?

• Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians

• Association for Contemporary Music

• Communist Party of Russia

• Leningrad Philharmonic

What was the title of the critical article published in Pravda?

• Symphony of the People

• Muddle Instead of Music

• Music and Politics

• The Great Purge

During which years did the Great Purge occur?

• 1934-1936

• 1935-1937

• 1937-1939

• 1936-1938

How many movements are in Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony?

• Three

• Two

• Five

• Four

Which instrument plays a solo in the second movement of the Fifth Symphony?

• Violin

• Flute

• E flat clarinet

• Trumpet

What is unique about the third movement of the Fifth Symphony?

• It is the shortest movement

• It is a solo performance

• It lacks brass instruments

• It includes a brass section

What does the change from a minor key to a major key symbolize in the final movement?

• A tragic ending

• Defeat of good

• Victory and celebration

• A new beginning

How was the Fifth Symphony received by the Communist Party?

• It was criticized for being too modern

• It was ignored

• It was praised for its accessibility

• It was banned

Which conductor's recording of the Fifth Symphony is recommended in the video?

• Leonard Bernstein

• Simon Rattle

• Gustavo Dudamel

• Herbert von Karajan