Or is that Just Fiction?
Judge for yourself......
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/arts/ ... ctionfront
Was Shostakovich a Martyr?
Re: Was Shostakovich a Martyr?
To be clear, this is a book review which Richard Taruskin uses to revisit the long and, by now, tiresome "Shostakovich wars" over the veracity of Volkov's "Testimony." At great length. Taruskin is always a stimulating writer and good to have on your side,
but as a partisan polemicist he often makes assertions for which there's no undisputed evidence. Nobody should take this occasional piece as anything like the last word on its subject. But if you're interested in Shostakovich's life, and haven't already had enough of the Shostakovich wars, you'd probably enjoy it.

John Francis
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Re: Was Shostakovich a Martyr?
The Wilson book is an invaluable oral history, of course; but the truth can be a tricky target even with those sources.
I really enjoyed Taruskin's review, and cannot in particular fault it.
Cheers,
~k.
I really enjoyed Taruskin's review, and cannot in particular fault it.
Cheers,
~k.
Karl Henning, PhD
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston, Massachusetts
http://members.tripod.com/~Karl_P_Henning/
http://henningmusick.blogspot.com/
Published by Lux Nova Press
http://www.luxnova.com/
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston, Massachusetts
http://members.tripod.com/~Karl_P_Henning/
http://henningmusick.blogspot.com/
Published by Lux Nova Press
http://www.luxnova.com/
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- Composer-in-Residence
- Posts: 9801
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:12 am
- Location: Boston, MA
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Re: Was Shostakovich a Martyr?
I don't think you can really argue that it is Taruskin's use; it is incontestably the milieu of the book under review.John F wrote:To be clear, this is a book review which Richard Taruskin uses to revisit the long and, by now, tiresome "Shostakovich wars" over the veracity of Volkov's "Testimony."
Cheers,
~k.
Karl Henning, PhD
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston, Massachusetts
http://members.tripod.com/~Karl_P_Henning/
http://henningmusick.blogspot.com/
Published by Lux Nova Press
http://www.luxnova.com/
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston, Massachusetts
http://members.tripod.com/~Karl_P_Henning/
http://henningmusick.blogspot.com/
Published by Lux Nova Press
http://www.luxnova.com/
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