What is it that makes Dmitri Shostakovich a favorite among teenagers and young musicians? Dive with me into the intense, sometimes ugly, always gripping world of Shostakovich. In this video, we’ll explore why this Soviet-era composer continues to resonate with high school students and young musicians around the world. From his bold symphonies to his head-banger chamber music and concerti, Shostakovich offers a rawness that matches the rollercoaster of adolescent emotions easily as much as popular non-classical grunge artists like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins.
I’ll share how my obsession began as a high schooler in Texas, where friends preparing to audition for the 1988 All-State Symphony Orchestra led to us listening to and practicing his 5th Symphony non-stop. It was that chance encounter that turned us into “Shosta-Kids” overnight.
Whether you’re already a devoted fan or just discovering Shostakovich, this video will uncover why so many of us feel hooked by his music.
Hit play to find out if you, too, are a Shosta-Kid at heart! Leave a comment with your favorite Shostakovich moments or pieces—I’d love to hear your story.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow music lovers.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
01:15 – Shostakovich 101
05:18 – Shosta-Kids
07:47 – It’s a Conspiracy!
09:37 – Ugly Music
11:57 – Musical Signature
13:30 – Ciao
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#shostakovich
#classicalmusic
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#musiceducation
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Shosty❤😊
His famous waltz, a favourite with Andre Rieux, wasn't played. Everyone likes a good tune.
For me it was the 9th symphony on a Lenard Bernstein Young People's Concert when I was 9. And I loved it – but I didn't catch the name of the piece or the composer. (Hadn't yet developed my musical appreciation and memory.) But – it made such an impression (thanks to Bernstein's great analysis) that when I heard it again about 2 years later I recognized it and made sure to get to know more Shostakovich! We had a solid recording of the 1st & 9th conducted by Milan Horvat and the Zagreb Phil. Also around that time I can to know and love the 8th quartet. Then the 5th symphony, and eventually I had to get to know all his symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and solo piano works. His unique sound qualities are infinitely fascinating, and I am hard pressed to say what my favorite pieces are. Currently I am listening to the 15th symphony and the 1st cello concerto. I certainly was a Shosta-kid and continue as a Shost-adult, no signs of slowing. Yay Dmitri!!
Are you Shostakovich?!?
I grow with Hummel.🧍♂️
DSCH is my favourite composer. Kurt Sanderling is my favourite interpreter of his symphonies (1, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 15). His eights symphony is my favourite symphony of any composer. DSCH8+Sanderling+BerlinerSO is the peak of all peaks. I love the brutal staccatoesque Allegro of the 8th more than the brutal movement in the 10th. Awww, and then, THE pasacaglia.
Haitink/Concertgebouw 11 is my favourite 11th. 11th is a good piece to introduce DSCH, very accessible, almost film music.
A bit underappreciated by the audience are his 1st and 15th symphony. His first is an awesome piece and IMO there is the inspiration for the Darth Vader theme. As is the 15th, a glorious last symphony.
I'm also a very young kid. 52 😀 Admittedly, already at my age, there aren't really that many classical music enthusiasts. Enthusiasts, i.e. not those people publicly appreciating Beethovens 9th if the European Union does some democracy celebration thing. Enthusiast: The people who cry because of joy, the ones who never stop collecting to find the best possible interpretation (and after all, are generally stuck with their first love, as a rule of thumb 😀)
I recommend to watch out for Shostakovich 8 symphony with Kurt Sanderling and Berliner Philharmoniker. IMO the best concert recording available on Youtube.
Anyone know the name/movement of the first piece in the beginning of the video?
'Why' is a good question. As someone who has ALWAYS from a young age mainly loved baroque music, it has been pretty hard to find other people who share my music taste, especially as I became incredibly focused on baroque/classica-era sacred choral music, so unfortunately I have naturally grown to have a bit of a gripe with Shostakovich, Mahler, Chopin etc.
As an autistic person who has never understood or related to how the neurotypical mind works, I will never be able to understand or want to listen to any of these composers. I would find it easier to listen to a 'simple' Clementi sonatina for 20 times on repeat, picking out the emotionally charged gestures and rhetoric within the music, than listen to a shostakovich piece one time. But thats ok, we are all different 🙂
I discovered him, just like many other composers, thanks to twoset violin.
In my early 20s as a music student, I saw Sanderling conduct the Shosti 8 with the LA Phil and it blew my mind. So freaking intense!
I discovered Shostakovich last year when I was eleven, I’m a string player of course. Also just wondering if anyone knows what the piece in the beginning is ?
The thing that draws me to shostakovich so much is the ssme thing that draws me to samuel barber. Both have the ability to create musical chaos and make you feel a sense of anxiety and panic, then immediately follow it up with the most gorgeous melodies in classical music
Ironically for me, it also was the 5th symphony. I am a bassist and it was my first excerpt for a youth orchestra that I tried. I am currently part of the Houston Youth Symphony and been for 2 years now. Shostakovich has been such an icon and inspiration for me, given that he pushed through a lot of hardship, kept hope in soviet Russia, still delivered powerful music. I even recently did a project on him as a presentation! (16)
I’ve been slowly getting into Bruckner and it IS true, Bruckner is very personal, it’s like walking a museum, I love museums, lots of people do but just about as many don’t
I’m a shost- adult
Favorites of shostakovich:
Symphonies: 1,4,6,7
String quartets:1,2,12,13,14,15
Symphony #5 – last movement especially – played by a little "pick up" band in college
I’m 17 and I’ve been hooked on Shostakovich since I was 10. My older brother played his first waltz and I was in love. Then around 12 I heard his symphonies and fell completely in love. He captured every emotion I have felt throughout my entire life, and now I’m turning 18 this Monday! And he’s still so huge for me. He showed me preserverince, love, grief, and strength in all situation. I’ve gotten books and documentaries from him.
His life is so interesting, and him as a person was too. I’ve done so much research on him haha! Yet I’ve never seen any of his work live as tickets are expensive. I wish I could though.
His 4th symphony is my absolute favorite. It’s wild, it’s loving yet it’s filled with so much grief and yearning for help and care. It’s everything I’ve felt and he’s expressed it all for me. It’s so childish at times too and that’s what makes it feel so raw.
5 is also just a wonderful symphony. I’ve heard it thousands of times and the 3rd movement is so wonderfully crafted. I’ve listened to that so many times to help me deal with my own grief and it’s been a wonderful journey in that regard.
His 2nd piano concerto really speaks to me as the childishness and goofiness is just at times there as a reminder that we don’t have to grow you know? It’s so delicate and beautiful. It shows how versatile he is.
His first symphony captures this as well. No wonder he blew up! How could he not?
Safe to say he’s been a bit of an interest of mine for half of my life. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Such a well made video, and so real😅i remember playing shosty 5 mvmt III. as a cellist and Performing it in severance hall is a highlight of my life, just thinking abt it give me goosebumps.
I discovered Shostakovich 1 year ago, i'm 15 years old and since ive been obsessed with his music, so glad to know more people love him my age (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
3:38 In the confines of my own mind, I call it "The Well-Tempered Commissar."
12:05. Shostakovich's friend Benjamin Britten quoted the DSCH motive in his choral piece Rejoice in the Lamb.
I don't exactly know what, other than a friendly tease, Britten might have had in mind, by setting those notes to the text "silly fellow."
I'm 14. I was always fascinated by The russian classical music. I distinctively remember the first time hearing Romeo And Juliet by Tchaikovsky, that was when I fell in love with classical music. Shostakovich is actually pretty new for me, I'm yet limited to the jazz suite no.2 and his piano concerto. I want to know more about him. His life. His music. His soul. I like fiery music, this quartet seems like something I could spend hours listening to 🙂