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Inspiring quotes by Dmitri Shostakovich

hridoy khan · September 12, 2024 · 3 min read
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The top 10 most inspiring quotes by Dmitri Shostakovich

  • When a man is in despair, it means that he still believes in something.
  • Real music is always revolutionary, for it cements the ranks of the people; it arouses them and leads them onward.
  • Music is a means capable of expressing dark dramatism and pure rapture, suffering and ecstasy, fiery and cold fury, melancholy and wild merriment – and the subtlest nuances and interplay of these feelings which words are powerless to express and which are unattainable in painting and sculpture.
  • If they cut off both hands, I will compose music anyway holding the pen in my teeth.
  • What you have in your head, put down on paper. The head is a fragile vessel.
  • Every piece of music is a form of personal expression for its creator…If a work doesnt express the composers own personal point of view, his own ideas, then it doesnt, in my opinion, even deserve to be born.
  • I write music, it’s performed. After all, my music says it all. It doesn’t need historical and hysterical commentaries. In the long run, any words about music are less important than the music.
  • The best way to hold on to something is to pay no attention to it. The things you love too much perish. You have to treat everything with irony, especially the things you hold dear. There’s more of a chance then that they’ll survive.
  • A creative artist works on his next composition because he was not satisfied with his previous one.
  • A great piece of music is beautiful regardless of how it is performed. Any prelude or fugue of Bach can be played at any tempo, with or without rhythmic nuances, and it will still be great music. That’s how music should be written, so that no-one, no matter how philistine, can ruin it.

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) was a renowned Russian composer and pianist, widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Born in Saint Petersburg, Shostakovich showed early musical talent, entering the Petrograd Conservatory at age 13.

His works reflect the tumultuous political climate of Soviet Russia, particularly under Joseph Stalin, where he experienced both censorship and acclaim.

Shostakovich’s compositions include 15 symphonies, chamber music, and concertos. His Fifth Symphony (1937) marked a crucial turning point, appeasing the Soviet authorities while maintaining his artistic voice. Shostakovich skillfully balanced his personal expression with the demands of Soviet propaganda, navigating the complex political landscape with subtle critiques and hidden meanings.

He also contributed significantly to film music and opera. Despite facing government scrutiny throughout his career, Shostakovich remained a national hero and a global icon for his innovative blending of traditional and modernist styles. His legacy continues to influence classical music today.

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