Nonfiction: Symphony for the City of the Dead

                                                                        Carrie                                     
         
                                           
                                            Photo Credit: Google Images

                                     

The Symphony for the City of the Dead tells the story of 20^th century Leningrad through the lens of a gifted composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. Born under the czars to an affluent middle class family, Shostakovich witnesses the successful October Revolution that brings Vladamir Lenin and the Communist party to power. Lenin states that the arts should be accessible to all proletariat. The renaissance that is born in this assertion allows Dmitri to flourish as a composer, eventually seeing his works produced as far west as Philadelphia. Later, when Stalin ascends to power and attends Shostakovich's third symphony, Shostakovich is rightfully nervous. Stalin’s scathing review of his composition in Pravda brands him an “enemy of the people,” who is all but outcast.  Such criticism from the tyrannical leader leaves Shostakovich fearing for his life. Hundreds of thousands of Russians are being purged and sent to Siberian prison camps for accusations of being counter-revolutionaries. Stalin is so steadfastly focused on purging anyone who could challenge his rule, he neglects to see a real threat that is at his border: the Nazi army ready to lead them into a world war that will cost the Soviets 27 million lives. Leningrad is sieged, and the Nazi’s blockade the city after destroying the stores of food that would feed the remaining 2 million residents. As his family subsists on smaller and smaller rations of bread, and as German bombs bombard the city, Shostakovich fervently composes his seventh symphony, named the Leningrad Symphony after his beloved city. Eventually his family is evacuated, this time to Moscow, unfortunately on the eve of a German assault on that city. They are transferred further to the east, where Shostakovich is able to finish his work. At great effort, the symphony is transported to Allied nations across the globe, and he piece is performed all over the world. Americans who hear it are so moved that they increase rations of food and charitable gifts to the battle weary Russians. Germans who hear it must concede that Russians who could compose such profound work may not be “sub-humans” after all. But the most profound effect is on the people of the City of the Dead, Leningrad.  Emaciated Leningrad musicians scarcely have the strength to play the music, in fact three die in rehearsals. But eventually they perform for their city, and it is a moment of triumph for the starving Russians. It makes them feel like human beings again. Before long, the tide of the war turns and Germany is defeated.  

                This is a book I would only recommend for older high school students. Stories of the purges and the rampant starvation in Leningrad are dark and unsettling. It was not uncommon for starving people to resort to cannibalism. While some ate from the dead, there are stories of active attacks on the living, including a woman who tried to cook her grandbaby two days before the old woman died of starvation. It is impossible to read this book without listening to the described symphonies, and for that reason, reading the book took a long time. I was constantly stopping to listen to and reflect on the music described. I can imagine a Russian history teacher partnering with a music teacher to teach this content. Overall this book is a powerful story about the sacrifices and character choices that Russians made in order to survive one of the hardest centuries in history. The power of the arts is also paramount. Shostakovich’s music allowed people to embrace humanity in a world that seems to have forgotten how to be truly human.

Works Cited

Anderson, M.T. (2015.) Symphony for the City of the Dead. Somerville, MA. Candlewick Press.

Websites

Leningrad Symphony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd8iAe4WhMM

MPR Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 http://www.pbs.org/keepingscore/shostakovich-symphony-5.html

NPR Power and Struggle in a Soviet Symphony: http://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2014/11/05/361810167/power-and-struggle-in-a-soviet-symphony

NPR Amid Hunger and Cold, An Unforgettable Symphony Premiere http://www.npr.org/2014/11/02/358124326/amid-hunger-and-cold-an-unforgettable-symphony-premiere?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=classical&utm_term=music&utm_content=202503

Part One Interview with author MT Anderson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNkzTYN9_XU

Part Two Interview with author MT Anderson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR5jzbLiBk8