Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 (1943) was denounced as part of the 1948 decree for, I assume, its morose and tragic tone. It is the antithesis of the desired socialist realism of the period. Yet, while it evokes war strongly enough to have received the subtitle ‘Stalingrad Symphony’, I find it interesting that it was not also considered program music. While no clear narrative is followed and the music is far from incidental, it does certainly evoke imagery of war and loss. And clearly, this evocation was strong enough to render it dangerous in the eyes of the party.
Song of the Forests (1949) also evokes war. This time, however, it is of a triumphant tone. ‘When the War Ended’ carries a different narrative to Symphony No. 8; it is one of “victorious regiments” who had “defended our freedom” (Song of the Forests, A25). Assumedly, this is also in reference to the Battle of Stalingrad where the Soviet Union had decisively defeated German attempts at taking Stalingrad. I am curious about the dual depictions of the same war (and even same battle?). Memorial of lives lost seems to not have been part of the party’s desired music, but celebration of “defended freedom” was. With its resounding political success but immeasurable human losses, how was World War Two remembered – or rather, supposed to be remembered – under Stalin and his successors?
