Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite

Average_duration

:

22:23

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's "The Unforgettable Year 1919" is a suite for orchestra that was composed in 1951. The piece was premiered on November 6, 1952, by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Yevgeny Mravinsky. The suite is comprised of five movements, each of which depicts a different aspect of the tumultuous year 1919 in Russia. The first movement, "In Petrograd, in the First Days of the Uprising," is a frenzied and chaotic depiction of the Bolshevik Revolution. The second movement, "Razliv," is a serene and melancholic portrait of the countryside outside of Petrograd, where Shostakovich spent time during the revolution. The third movement, "The Founding of the Republic," is a triumphant and bombastic celebration of the establishment of the Soviet state. The fourth movement, "The Dawn of Humanity," is a haunting and eerie depiction of the aftermath of the revolution, with its themes of death and destruction. The final movement, "The Tocsin," is a powerful and dramatic call to arms, with its insistent rhythms and driving energy. The piece ends with a triumphant flourish, as if to suggest that the revolution had succeeded in its goals. Overall, "The Unforgettable Year 1919" is a powerful and evocative work that captures the spirit of a pivotal moment in Russian history. Shostakovich's use of dissonance, unconventional harmonies, and unconventional orchestration creates a sense of unease and tension that perfectly captures the chaos and uncertainty of the time.

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