https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead AP Language and Composition Outside Reading Book (Term 1) en-us 2018-11-14 17:52:22 UTC 2025-12-20 00:43:41 UTC hello@padlet.com 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/304531345 I personally am not the biggest fan of nonfiction but when I saw "Symphony for the City of the Dead" while scrolling through Amazon, I got really excited. It combines my love for music and history. It delves into the tremendous impact that music has on those around it, especially during a time of turmoil and war (WWII). To do so, it follows the life of Dimitri Shostakovich, who wrote one of my favorite classical pieces, Waltz NO. 2. ]]> 2018-11-14 20:14:00 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/304531345 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/304541873 Week #1: 11/30- p. 1-126
Week #2:12/7- p. 127-253
Week #3: 12/14- p. 254-379]]> 2018-11-14 20:37:54 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/304541873 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/305373073 2018-11-16 17:45:01 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/305373073 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308926110 Quote Sections
p.1-30
p.31-60
p.61-97
p.98-126]]> 2018-11-28 17:33:50 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308926110 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308928069 Quote Sections
p.127-150
p.151-177]]> 2018-11-28 17:36:48 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308928069 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308929205 Quote Sections
p.178-216
p.217-253
p.254-285
p.286-304
p.305-349
p.350-379]]> 2018-11-28 17:38:31 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308929205 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308933708 In this quote, Anderson connects the young years of Shostakovich to those of his later years, where this statement comes more into play. By describing the young years of Dmitri Shostakovich, Anderson sets up the scene for the country at war and also explains how Shostakovich developed his love for music. As one of Shostakovich's first pieces, "Funeral March for the Victims of the Revolution" acts as both a symbol for the composer's origins, and the turmoil that was happening during this time. ]]> 2018-11-28 17:45:40 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/308933708 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005218 In this quote, Anderson uses Shostakovich's style to describe the beginnings of Shostakovich's stardom in Russia. His operas, ballets, and symphonies were very popular and were seen as some of the best of all time. All of his pieces all had a great sense of originality and a spark of genius. He broke the traditional rules of composing and set new standards, as seen by his "characters", which were new, modern, and unique. This energetic and "bizarre" sound made Shostakovich a household name, but also put him onto Stalin's list. ]]> 2018-11-30 22:44:25 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005218 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005240 This quote addresses a part of Stalin's Five-Year Plan, collectivization in the countryside and arrest of the wreckers in city factories, in order to keep the "machine", also known as society, running smoothly. To do so, Stalin used great force to keep things under control, as seen by regulating the freedom of artists and musicians. This is seen by the use of the analogy of machine with well-working parts that would allow for "good outcomes". Unintentionally, Shostakovich highlighted the Five-Year Plan in two ballets of his, making him stop writing music for those who supported the plan. This, however led to more danger for Shostakovich. ]]> 2018-11-30 22:44:38 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005240 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005468 haranguing (verb): lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner]]> 2018-11-30 22:46:28 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005468 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005863 This quote is talking about Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, which was greatly celebrated and deeply analyzed for secret codes. Each movement houses a different theme and character, or "masks", which sparked more curiosity for the true meaning of the Symphony. Some think that it was a statement against Stalin's dictatorship. Shostakovich was thought to have said that the meaning was clear: the "rejoicing is forced, created under threat" (140). However, this wasn't a direct quote from the composer, so the true meaning of the Symphony is still being discussed today. ]]> 2018-11-30 22:49:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005863 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005879 intelligentsia (noun): intellectuals or highly educated people as a group, especially when regarded as possessing culture and political influence]]> 2018-11-30 22:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310005879 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310015521 totalitarian (adjective): relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state]]> 2018-12-01 00:55:09 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310015521 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310017078 This quote explores the dark place that Shostakovich slipped under after his work was seen as being "treason" and an "enemy". After everyone refusing to see his work due to fear, Shostakovich was overcome with depression and suicidal thoughts. As mentioned in the quote, one of the ways that helped him with fear was the reminder that he had a little girl on the way and that it would have selfish to abandon her like that. After recovering from his dark place, Shostakovich finished his 4th Symphony, which was unlike the rest of his others symphonies. This one made a statement, and made Shostakovich's reentry to the world was awesome. ]]> 2018-12-01 01:25:02 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/310017078 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/312366730 This quotes is in referral to the draft that took place after the beginning of World War II, after Germany attacked Poland. Stalin called upon his country with a fear-instilling command for those to were able, to join the war. Many people took up this offer, such as Shostakovich, despite his history with Stalin. The feeling of patriotism was contagious and affected the whole country, which allowed even composers, to have a part to defending their homeland, "Song inspires bravery almost as well as vodka" (176). By comparing music to vodka, it truly shows the power of a song, because vodka was and still a very strong aspect of Russia. ]]> 2018-12-07 18:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/312366730 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528681 The author includes this quote from Isaak Glikman, a friend of Shostakovich, to foreshadow the events that were going to follow after the release of his Seventh Symphony. During the time of the German invasion of Russia, Shostakovich was in the process of writing this symphony, which reflected the situations that were actually happened. He felt that this piece was going to make such a large scale, due to the amount of inspiration and sense direction that he felt when writing it. However, this flow impeded him and his family from fleeing Russia before the Germans started their air raids. This started a domino effect for the effects of the Seventh Symphony. ]]> 2018-12-14 03:03:40 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528681 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528700 The author uses this quote as the answer the quote above, "Why was the Seventh Symphony so important?". When it first was performed, the symphony was widely loved and celebrated, boosting the enjoyment of a pretty gloom country. As the result of starvation and constant bombings, the soldiers and citizens of Leningrad, Russia, were very afraid, stressed, and anxious. With the help of this symphony, morale was raised and it helped to lighten the mood. At the end of this section, the author asks a rhetorical question of the difference between art and propaganda; it turns out, there really is no difference.
 ]]> 2018-12-14 03:03:50 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528700 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528723 This quote regards the discussion which sparked the writing of this very biography: was Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony written code. Today, this discussion still remains, due to either argument being completely valid. The composer wrote the piece during the ugly times of the war, and drew inspiration from the events that were occurring around him. In fact, the finale is about the first time the German army was stopped in World War II. The symphony delves into "all forms of terror, slavery, and the bondage of the spirit"(279). With each different movement, arguments arise to discuss the hidden messages embedded. ]]> 2018-12-14 03:04:00 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528723 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528756 This quote describes the very dark and eerie time of the German control of Leningrad. Starvation was at an all time high and caused many to lose energy, weight, and their minds. Cannabalism grew more and more popular, as people were going insane and wanted to eat. Family members turned on one another. The death toll grew and grew as the days went on until the war was over. Shostakovich, however, was all of unaware to the horrors that were happening in his home city, and did suspect that something was wrong. ]]> 2018-12-14 03:04:12 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528756 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528773 This quote describes Leningrad's celebration of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony. They treated it like an anthem for freedom, and used it as a new start, after suffering the "soulless Nazi war machine". In the section before this, the author describes the musicians' determination to perform this piece, professionals and soldiers alike. This determination stemmed from the new sense of nationalism that erupted in Russia, as a result of this piece. The author uses this quote in the last part of this section to show the amount of work, energy, and determination that Leningrad had gained.  ]]> 2018-12-14 03:04:24 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528773 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528825 rife (adjective): (especially of something undesirable or harmful) of common occurrence; widespread]]> 2018-12-14 03:04:50 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314528825 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314537391 effervesce (noun): : a person who commits arson : arsonist. b : a substance or weapon (such as a bomb) used to start fires. 2 : a person who excites factions, quarrels, or sedition : agitator.]]> 2018-12-14 04:34:51 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314537391 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314540911 bereft (adjective): deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset.]]> 2018-12-14 05:26:54 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314540911 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314634052 dysentery (noun): infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the feces.]]> 2018-12-14 13:28:48 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314634052 20mccuea https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314858948 Anderson uses this quote as the opening line for the section of the book, Part Three. A "perfect cadence" is a musical term referring to the part of a phrase which ends just right and sounds "right". Anderson uses this analogy to show how not all stories have a nice and tidy ending. In this section, the author describes how the siege still continued after the new boost of morale brought by Shostakovich's Symphony, and how the rise of communism presented new problems for Russia. As the result of the rise of communism, Shostakovich and many other composers. all of which were treated like gods, were now discriminated against and were eventually forced to join the Communist Party. With these events amongst others, Anderson concludes the story of Dmitri Shostakovich with describing how his love for music, soccer, and his family still remained with him, even at death's door. ]]> 2018-12-15 02:41:44 UTC https://padlet.com/20mccuea/Symphony_for_the_City_of_the_Dead/wish/314858948