Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7
It comes to the 80th anniversary of thevictory of World War II, a milestone that inevitably draws our minds back tothe most devastating conflict in human history. The war engulfed over 60countries, stretching from Asia to Europe and from the Pacific to the Atlantic.Two billion people, accounting for 80% of the world’s population at the time,saw their homelands ravaged by the flames of war. The conflict made astaggering toll: 70 million deaths, 130 million injuries, and immeasurableeconomic and cultural losses.
Among all nations, the Soviet Union sufferedthe most severe casualties during World War II. On June 22, 1941, Hitlerunilaterally tore up the Molotov-Ribbentrop Non-Aggression Pact and launched asurprise attack on the Soviet Union with a force of five million troops. Inresponse, Stalin called upon the military and civilians to unite in alife-and-death fight against the German invaders, marking the outbreak of theSoviet-German War, also known as the Great Patriotic War. This conflictresulted in over 28 million deaths and 33 million injuries. The most criticalbattles were the Siege of Leningrad and the Battle of Stalingrad. It was notuntil May 1945, when Soviet soldiers advanced on Berlin, that Germanysurrendered two weeks later, bringing World War II to an end.
When mentioning the Siege of Leningrad, onecannot help but recall the famous "Symphony No. 7" (also known as the"Leningrad Symphony") by the Soviet-era composer Dmitri Shostakovich.This symphony remains the most widely recognized among his 15 symphonies. In1941, Nazi Germany besieged Shostakovich’s hometown of Leningrad for 900 days,during which millions perished from starvation and disease. It was amidst thisartillery fire that this monumental 85-minute masterpiece was born. Thecomposer later reflected, "I could not help but write it. I had to be withmy people. I wanted to create an image of our country at war, to capture thisera in music, a time when people spared neither strength nor life forvictory." Upon completing the score, he solemnly wrote in red ink on thetitle page: "Dedicated to the city of Leningrad!"
The symphony consists of four movements. Thefirst movement, lasting 30 minutes, begins with a gentle allegretto thatgradually intensifies, depicting the progression of the war. It includes thefamous "Invasion March," characterized by mechanical drumbeats thatevoke the advancing German troops. Due to its resemblance to the "JapaneseArmy Entrance March," it is sometimes colloquially referred to as the"Devils’ March." The second movement is a scherzo combining moderatoand allegretto, expressing the people’s nostalgia for their peaceful pre-warlives. The third movement, a deeply sorrowful and tear-jerking adagio, issimultaneously serene and tranquil. Through its warmth and power, the composersought to comfort the war-torn people and inspire faith in peace and justice.The fourth movement transitions from allegro to moderato, building in volumeafter a slow exposition and culminating in a glorious and grand finale,symbolizing the people’s unwavering courage and ultimate victory.
In March 1942, the symphony premiered inKuibyshev to immediate acclaim. That August, the score was transported by amilitary aircraft delivering medical supplies into besieged Leningrad. The fewremaining orchestra members retrieved their instruments from the ruins andgathered from across the city, despite hunger and illness. Under the cover of 3000artillery shells fired by the Soviet forces, they performed this dedication toLeningrad within the besieged city. The music resounded over Leningrad and was broadcastvia radio to the front lines. This heroic and poignant feat uplifted the moraleand confidence of both soldiers and civilians. As a result, the symphony isregarded as an iconic work in the musical history of World War II.