Overview

In 1979, the alleged memoirs of legendary composer Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975) were published as ""Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitry Shostakovich As Related to and Edited by Solomon Volkov"". Since its appearance, however, ""Testimony"" has been the focus of controversy in Shostakovich studies as doubts were raised concerning its authenticity and the role of its editor, Volkov, in creating the book. ""A Shostakovich Casebook"" presents 25 essays, interviews, newspaper articles, and reviews - many newly available since the collapse of the Soviet Union - that review the ""case"" of Shostakovich. In addition to authoritatively reassessing ""Testimony""'s genesis and reception, the authors in this book address issues of political influence on musical creativity and the role of the artist within a totalitarian society. Internationally known contributors include Richard Taruskin, Laurel E. Fay, and Irina Antonovna Shostakovich, the composer's widow. This volume combines a balanced reconsideration of the ""Testimony"" controversy with an examination of what the controversy signifies for all music historians, performers, and thoughtful listeners.

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9780253343642

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Reviews

The book ... includes ... valuable essays and interviews, which move beyond the scholarly controversy to sketch a nuanced picture of Shostakovich's life under a totalitarian regime... The 'Casebook' contributors compellingly warn of replacing one mask with another, one black-and-white myth with its simple inversion. --New York Times ... an important and readable collection... It presents a devastating critique of Volkov's claims and scholarly practices in Testimony. --New York Review of Books The book ... includes ... valuable essays and interviews, which move beyond the scholarly controversy to sketch a nuanced picture of Shostakovich's life under a totalitarian regime... The Casebook contributors compellingly warn of replacing one mask with another, one black-and-white myth with its simple inversion. -- New York Times ...an important and readable collection... It presents a devastating critique of Volkov's claims and scholarly practices in Testimony . --New York Review of Books ...this book achieves what it sets out to do ... As a work of scholarship, it is consistently first-rate. --CAML Review The entire Casebook consists of essays focusing directly or indirectly on Testimony, and almost all destroy Volkov's credibility with compelling authority. --New Leader What a pleasure to read so many intelligent essays. --American Record Guide [A Shostakovich Casebook] presents the views of respected individuals, some of whom knew Dmitri Dmitrievich personally. I believe their opinions are very important, and I am grateful for their publication in this book. -- Mstislav Rostropovich A Shostakovich Casebook is more then than merely the latest salvo to be fired in the 'Shostakovich Wars'. It is the decisive knockout punch, and deserves a place on the bookshelf of those who want to learn about Shostakovich's music, life and times. --S.E.E.R., 85, 1, 2007

Author Information

Malcolm Hamrick Brown, a world-renowned authority on Russian and Soviet music, is the founding editor of the Russian Music Studies series at Indiana University Press.

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