Symphony No. 5: Movement 2

Question 1

Why did Shostakovich write Symphony No. 5?

Answer 1

Is a response to harsh criticism from the Soviet government for a previous work

Question 2

Movement 2 is what type of music?

Answer 2

A waltz like scherzo

Question 3

Symphony No. 5 has a lot of hidden musical clues. What are they?

Answer 3

It references Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, the song Habanera from Carmen, and a song that Shostakovich wrote earlier called Rebirth.

Question 4

What is a waltz?

Answer 4

A dance in triple meter

Question 5

What is a scherzo?

Answer 5

Italian for “to joke” or “to play;” usually a fast, playful piece of music

Question 6

What is triple meter?

Answer 6

Beats in groups of 3.

Question 7

What was the inspiration for Shostakovich is musical map?

Answer 7

Socialist realism, a style of art developed in the Soviet Union. It was the official style of Soviet culture in 1934

Question 8

When did Shostakovich write this piece?

Answer 8

Symphony No. 5 was composed and premiered in 1937