Shostakovich Symphony No 5

REFLECTION: SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN D MINOR
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The opening of the Fifth Harmony is awesome, it is giving off a confident and energetic start and slowly easing the audience into a respectful and fulfilling melody as it enters the sixth minute onwards. I feel very peaceful listening to it in its first six minutes. The energy the orchestra exhibits between 9:00 and 12:00 is very high and amusing with a lot of optimism to it. It makes me feel as though it is a ‘conversation’ going on in that period as a note from one instrument seems to trigger a different note from another instrument which can be described as a conversation of instruments. The ‘conversation’ seemingly ends and ushers in a peaceful tune at 14:00 and runs through to 17:00. The kind of peace that is powerful enough to relax the audience.
The trumpets provoke one’s relaxation as they start off on a high note at 17:30. It reminds me of the soundtracks that play in action movies when the climax scene progresses, a classic example being the Dark Knight’s soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. The instruments then pick up with another conversation from 17:50 onwards with exchanges between flutes, trumpets, violins and a harp. The conversation is very organized as instruments take turns in their responses and sometimes passing notes in unison.
The low key from the violins after the break at 23:00 washes away the joy that had earlier been brought by the orchestra and set an isolated and worrying emotion. It makes me feel as though am powerless and depressed as though I have lost something or someone.

Even the increase in the tone of the key at 27:30 does not change the emptiness until 36:00 when the orchestra rejuvenates their energy and brings back joy.

Bibliography
MartialVidz. 2013. Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 In D Minor (Philippe Jordan, Proms 2013). Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeJPmIbiqp4.