There is a sense of rebelliousness in Shostakovich use of chromaticism. It is suggestive of an underlying resistance to the agenda of the Soviet Realist genre, which seeks to evoke an image of the USSR as a harmonious, triumphant nation. Shostakovich’s music suggests the psychologi-cal unease experienced by Soviet citizen. Given that Shostakovich commissioned the poem that provide the lyrics for the movement from Yevtushenko, it is clear that this struggle was also personal to him. V. Karyera (Career) The final movement of Shostakovich’s 13th Symphony begins with a beautiful, optimistic flute duet that pulls listeners out of the heavy chromaticism and somber tones that precede. This is achieved through the higher registers of the instrumentation and diatonic melodies. “Diatonic” re-fers to a musical arrangement that sounds “natural” (rather than dissonant) to audiences because the pitches written in the score are native to the established musical key. However, the duet is only a brief respite, almost as if it represents a pleasant illusion. The reality cannot be held at bay, but needs an instrument with deeper resonances to be broken. Hence, the strings enter, at first in concert with the flute passage, before overwhelming them with sharp and heavy tones. Each instrument, Shostakovich’s orchestration suggests, has its particular genius, as does each musician, chorus member, poet, composer, and Soviet citizen. qsssssssssssYevtushenko’s lyrics celebrate the world-changing accomplishments of such greats as Galileo, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Pasteur, and Newton. He refers to these men as “careerists,” a potentially derisive term in a collectivist society in which faithful service to the state were idealized. A good Soviet was satisfied with a lifelong career in the civil service, while people who pursued per-sonal ambitions were selfish “careerists.” But Yevtushenko reclaims the term “careerist” to suggest the dedication and integrity required to do work that has the power to change the world. Yevtushenko’s careerists assume great risks to be able to complete their life’s purposes, and often sacrifice respect, relationships, and livelihoods to do so. Yevtushenko’s lyrics elevate Galileo, a man whose insights went against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. For his discovery about our planet Galileo faced the risk alone, and he was a great man. Now that is what I understand by a careerist. (lines 14-17) Yevtushenko clearly sees the fire and dedication of careerists like Galil80
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