ia_2010_julie_a

=Plan of the Investigation (100-150 Words) Tips]=

This investigation focuses on the life of the Russian Composer Dmitri Shostakovich during the rule of Josef Stalin, and how his work and life as a part of the contemporary Russian intelligentsia were affected by the dictatorship. I will focus on how his War Symphonies and the opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk reflected the circumstances during Stalin’s USSR in terms of tonality, style, mood, reason for writing and other factors. I have chosen this topic as music is my passion and after having studied Stalin’s rule, I was curious on how it had affected Russian Music of the time. In order to appreciate the USSR under Stalin, an overview will be given of the works and life of the composer and the national events during this period such as war famine and victory. Regarding the main body of my analysis, I shall be looking at how these two factors link. Sources will be key in assessing this link; Shostakovich’s supposed Memoirs, alongside books, articles and film that intertwine the lives of the two prominent figures very closely shall be very useful, especially when considering the values and limitations that they offer. The reliability of the sources will allow me to draw a conclusion on the extent to which Shostakovich based his work on the political scene of his country.

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