31 Days of Classical, Day 10: Quintessential Shostakovich

Each day throughout July, I'll share with you a piece of classical music. Thirty-one days, thirty-one pieces.

The list is by no means definitive, nor is it necessarily a list of all of my favorite music from the classical world. Every morning, I start my day with music that inspires me in some way, whether I'm inspired by its happiness, its loneliness, the instrumentation, the harmony, the colors, the melody — each piece is special in some way — and offers an opportunity to either hear something you've never heard, or hear something new in a piece you've known your whole life.

Day 10: Dmitri Shostakovich, Prelude in C

This is quintessential Shostakovich. Notice how it starts off lovely and beautiful and dreamy and gorgeous? Then he throws a little bit of crunchy dissonance in there to make it colorful, and to remind you that he is Shostakovich, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Shostakovich had a horribly difficult life, pressed and held firmly under the thumb of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. Stalin watched (and listened to) Shostakovich like a hawk, yet Dmitri managed to write some of the most beautiful music in the world under the most dire of circumstances. Here's a bonus.

Take the 31 Days of Classical Challenge

31 Days is a bite-sized month-long trial of Classical Music from across the spectrum of the wonderful, expansive music we love at Classical MPR. Join the fun by subscribing to the 31 Days of Classical newsletter, or use #31DaysofClassical on Twitter or Facebook.

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