Leningrad Symphony No. 7 In C. Major, Op. 60

NameProfessor CourseDateLeningrad Symphony No. 7 in C. Major, Op. 60Musical nationalism describes art music that was created with the intention to inspire patriotic sentiments and promote nationalism (Taylor 3). The 19th century also dubbed the Romantic era presented a turbulent political period in the Western world and music was employed as an effective way of inspiring sentiments for centuries a romantic tool that composers utilized to turn patriotic songs into art music. Dmitri Shostakovich is undoubtedly one of the key figures in the twentieth-century nationalistic music (McKay 1). Shostakovich holds an odd position in the musical realm since his music is not only enjoyed by many listeners but also disdained in some critical and musicological circles (Shostakovich and Barshai 1). His musical work is characteristically an abstracting tool for political speech, complete with melodrama and clichés. It is the standard packaging of Shostakovich’s pieces with the political connotations right at the mention of his name and various critics focusing on his biography (Tirman 3). As Norris (1982) puts it, ‘There is no doubt that the socio-political into which Shostakovich was born affected the way in which he worked. It is inconceivable that anyone, let alone who has the virtual