Sample Solution

section, snippets and alterations of other selections are subtly heard.  The second movement begins with a scherzo-like theme in the string section but later in the movement the winds interrupt with a raucous theme reminiscent of the siege and battle.   The movement starts with a string trio and expands outward from there. Stylistically, it sounds like a neo-classical dance, scherzo, and a lyric intermezzo.  Initially, a light, lilting theme is introduced by the strings. The classical elements appear as clear phrases and cadences at first, but the dance seems almost broken as various other instruments seem to be playing their random tunes.  The meter shifts quite frequently and the number of accidentals involved makes the dance sound much sadder in some places and grotesque in others.  One could interpret this as the aftermath of the battle as it paints an image of almost confusion and shell shock. Gradually the movement manages to organize itself into a very haunting waltz just after rehearsal 82 with a solo melody provided by the clarinet. As other instruments enter, the meter continues to shift, throwing off the feel of the waltz.  Each part seems to be almost clashing with one another making the entrances increasingly dissonant before giving way to another fanfare reminiscent of the culmination point of the first movement.  One could interpret this as the aftermath of the battle as it paints an image of almost confusion and shell shock. Gradually the movement manages to organize itself into a very haunting waltz just after rehearsal 82 with a solo melody provided by the clarinet. As other instruments enter, the meter continues to shift, throwing off the feel of the waltz.  Each part seems to be almost clashing with one another making the entrances increasingly dissonant before giving way to another fanfare reminiscent of the culmination point of the first movement.  Shostakovich used the Seventh Symphony to portray images of both the events occurring around the World War II siege of Leningrad and his view of the Stalin regime.

The Seventh Symphony was highly regarded in the Soviet Union as a statement of the suffering and deaths attributed to Nazis and the resilience of its citizens. The first performances were greeted with ovations and tears as the country mourned the many losses received at the hands of their oppressors.     Alexei Tolstoy recognized the unconstrained outpouring of emotion the symphony evoked.  He wrote an admirable review of the work in the Soviet paper, Pravda.    In his evaluation of the symphony, Tolstoy projected the acceptable views of nationalism and patriotism espoused by Stalin.   The Seventh Symphony became part of a propaganda campaign as it was played throughout the Soviet Union.  The staging of the Leningrad performance at the Astoria Hotel was on August 9, 1942, this was the day that Hitl