Dimiti Shostakovich 1906-2006

It is the hundredth birthday of the Russian avante-garde/modernist composer Dimitri Shostakovich.

His work was always heroic, some say bombastic. It was played by the orchestra in Stalingrad as the Germans advanced, and Shostakovich himself composed during the seige of Lenningrad.

The Leningrad Blockade Museum

September 16, 1941

"An hour ago I finished the score for the two movements of a large symphonic composition.

If I succeed in bringing it off, that is if I manage to finish the third and the fourth movements, I'll be able to call the work the Seventh Symphony.

Why am I telling you this?

I am telling you this to show that life in our city is normal.

We are all at our battle stations.

Soviet musicians, my dear numberless comrades in arms, my friends!

Remember, our art is in peril. So let us defend our music, let us work honestly and selflessly!"

Dmitry Shostakovich, speaking in a Leningrad Radio broadcast

His work was critical of the Stalinist regime while a paen to the revolutionary struggles of 1905 and 1917. The hero in his music was not an individual but the people and their struggles. His music ironically spoke to the soul of the listener. His is the voice of the dialectic, the struggle of humanity is also the struggle of the individual. He remains a major Socialist voice in modern music.

He was trashed in the West during the Cold War as a Stalinist hack. Without regard for the rigours of trying to remain within that regime while existing with personal and musical integrity.

As in death, he was fated to be at the heart of controversy during his life. However, if, during the Thirties and Fifties, Shostakovich was subjected to so-called 'right-wing' criticism from official circles professing the most reactionary conservatism, today he often becomes the target of attacks from the 'left', either from those post-war avant-garde adepts who see him as a traditionalist, or from 'truth lovers' bitten by the bug of unmasking, who smirk at his imagined conformity. Today it is very easy to be more Catholic than the Pope. It is more difficult to find what can be called the historical ear -- something that anyone who has pretensions to the title of music historian or music theorist should actually possess. Naturally, it is naive to expect younger generations to be informed of the social experience of the previous generations, for they will never be able to bridge this gap. They hear and see the recent past differently from those who experienced it, and that is not in the least surprising. Nevertheless, those who study the art of the past ought at least to try to correlate it with what used to be social practice during that time. The lack, among the young, of personal knowledge of these matters can be compensated by the study of historical facts and, naturally, as far as possible, by their correct interpretation. Otherwise, distortions -- or, at the least, superficial judgements -- will become etched in stone. To restore the historical truth and take a fresh look at Shostakovich's work are endeavors that are equally imperative today.

Shostakovich was an artist with a complex and tragicfate. Persecuted for almost his entire life and almost sharing the fate of Meyerhold, Mandel'shtam, and [the writer Varlam] Shalamov, he courageously endured hounding and persecution for the sake of what was most important in his life: his art. Occasionally, however, during the most complex conditions of political repression, he had to manoeuver. Without this manoeuvering, there would have been no Shostakovich art at all. Many of those who had started with him perished, while many others were brought to their knees. He survived and persevered, endured everything and, in the end, fulfilled his calling. And we can only bow before his fortitude and steadfastness.

What is important is not only how he is perceived and listened to today, but also who he was for his contemporaries. For those who listened attentively to his strong voice, filled with anxiety and, at times, breaking with despair, Shostakovich became a crucial symbol of intellectual integrity. For many years his music remained a safety valve which, for a few short hours, allowed listeners to expand their chests and breathe freely. At the time, his music was that truly indispensable lungful of freedom and dissidence, not only in its content, but also -- which is no less important -- in its musical form. However, first and foremost, we were grateful to Shostakovich for the fact that during those precious minutes of communion with his music, we were free to remain ourselves -- or, perhaps, to revert to ourselves. The sound of Shostakovich's music was not only always a celebration of high art, but also an interlude of truth. Those who knew how to listen to his music would take it away with them from the concert hall. His music became an emblem of spiritual experience and of hope for the future. It can be said, without exaggerating, that Shostakovich was the authentic conscience of his time. I would suggest that it is our task to carry over that understanding of his work into the present and to instill it into the coming generations of musicians and listeners.

The Dissident
Mark Aranovsky's introductory article in the Shostakovich issue
of Muzykal'naya Akademiya, Winter 1997

COMPOSITIONS by DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen


Listen to: Written With The Heart's Blood

The five parts of Quartet No. 8 depict significant moments -- both positive and negative -- in the composer's life. The piece is dominated by the repeated use of Shostakovich's musical "signature" of D, E flat, C, and B. This recurring motif both binds the piece together and gives it an oppressive, almost inescapable quality. In the second movement (Allegro Molto, featured here as arranged by Barshai for the New Century Chamber Orchestra), the relentless repetition conjures images of prison or endless pursuit: the strings race around each other with a manic urgency, swelling and spreading until they form a seemingly inescapable web. The piece's breathless, unsettling quality influenced both the work of Bernard Hermann, who composed the music for Psycho, and the band Faith No More, who sampled it in "Malpractice," on their 1992 album Angel Dust.

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A little taste

"Wow you are right Hamid that opium is great, thanks for the taste."

"Yep Stephen it gives you something to smile about."

"Better than Timmies."

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Seal Hunt Disinformation

A debate yesterday on Mike Duffy live between the advocate of a ban on seal hunting, and a Senator from the Rock (Newfoundland).

No matter how often the Senator tried to convince Duff and the anti-sealing advocate that clubbing baby seals does not happen, it was blissfully ignored. The hunt is not for babies. Killing baby harp seals has been illegal since 1987.

Yep never let the 'facts' get in the way of propaganda, since of course this IS NOT ABOUT SEALS. Its about the annual fundraising drive for Green NGO's. How many times do I have to say this?

Well until the deaf grow ears I guess. Besides think of all that Green Anti-Sealing propaganda that would have to be changed. Yet you still see this everywhere;



Which is a baby seal. Not a Harp seal, a white coat. And the hunt on them has been banned since 1987, and skinning seals alive, which is another piece of this propaganda, is also banned.

And this is the image of the hunt that is still used by those who want to foist their morality on fishers on the Rock.

And that's what it's about. It's not about the seals being endagered, its about the morality of the hunt. Its linked in many cases to the Animal Rights movement which is not about animals but about the moral superiority of the vegan diet.

Of course with the usual stars arriving on the ice flows to continue the propaganda campaign, like the McCartney's and Bridgette Bardot, folks on the Rock are getting a bit upset. Not only Senators and the Premier but ordinary bloggers. Which leads some of them to start their own campaigns. Like this one;





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Deja Vu

Wait a minute this isn't new, or news, this is the same policy that led to the invasion of Iraq.

US document cites Iran ‘confrontation’
Deccan Herald - 1 hour ago
A new US national security strategy document warns of a possible “confrontation” with Iran if “diplomatic efforts” fail to pressure Tehran to give up its aspirations to develop nuclear weapons. Preemption remains US policy option


Also See: Making Iran Nervous


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Iraqi Distraction

When you get bad news;

Like the lowest poll numbers ever, for both your Presidency and your private war.

The folks that are supposed to govern Iraq meet for for less than an hour and adjourns.34 Iraqis Killed, Sectarian Parliament Meets for Just 30 Minutes

Your allies the Brits announce they are withdrawing 10% of their troops.

The leader you have deposed is calling on his people to end sectarian violence and unite against you. Saddam Urges Iraqis to Unite Against GIs

The people you were supposed to liberate burn down a monument to the masacre of their relatives because they still don't have housing, water or electricity, Kurds attack Halabja memorial and govt offices

And you want to let folks think that all is going well, than make a big announcement about a standard training mission for the Iraqi Army. Don't include the press, and you create a distraction from a bad news week.

Which is what this is all about; US launches major air assault in Iraq


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Nosferatu Fortier

The saying goes is that the Red House, the Senate is where the dead play.

Hmmm perhaps this is why the Harpocrite's newly appointed Conservative Senator Michael Fortier looks like Nosferatu.

See: Abolish the Senate






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Carrots Scream

Does the carrot scream like mandrake when you put it in the blender?

You have to listen vewy , vewy carefully.

Which is probably why the makers of vegimatic blenders make them so loud,
so you don't hear the screaming.

I missed the meeting the other day of People for the Ethical Rights of Vegetables, or I could have raised this point there.

I love those PETA folks who want to stop us from having any relationships with our animal friends other than petting them and taking care of them.

I too support helping our animal friends and relations since we are animals too. So when right wingers get their knickers in a twist over animal rights being different than human rights, they forget that point. We are animals too. So it should behoove us to protect all our rights as sentient beings.

But in being animals and thus members of the animal kingdom we also eat our fellow creatures. We are not naturally vegan or vegetarian, never have been never will be. At best we have evolved into omnivores, in the transition from Hunter Gatherers to agriculturalists.

Veganism and Vegetarianism is a moral dietary choice. Sort of like not drinking milk. Which PETA also promotes. PETA's agenda has never been about saving animals or even animal rights its about getting us all to become something we aren't, vegans.

Killing, per se, is not the central concern of AR philosophy, which is
concerned with the avoidance of unnecessary pain and suffering.
Thus, because plants neither feel pain nor suffer, AR philosophy
does not mandate fruitarianism (a diet in which only fruits are eaten because they can be harvested without killing the plant from which they issue).
Animal Rights FAQ

In doing so they forget the fact that vegetables and fruits, members of the flora family, also have feelings. Indeed one could argue that the inherent nature of living, of being alive is to have 'feelings'. How of course one expresses those feelings is another question. If one is mute like most veggies then it is hard to communicate, to humans, however they do communicate.

But like lobsters, which PETA also opposes eating, we know when veggies are done, are cooked, are dead, because they change colour in boiling water. And again you don't hear them scream cause you drowned them you cad.

Now as far a moral diets go there are those out there that do go further than PETA and the vegans. Such as fruitarians a particular cult from good old cult heaven, California. They believe you should only eat fruit. Tell that to the Inuit.

But better yet are the breatherians, who believe you should not harm any living creature, and should survive only on breathing and sunlight. Of course by breathing you do obsorb bacteria, spores, germs etc. and thus are consuming some innocent creature. And living on sunlight only would again be hard for Inuit and northern peoples where sunlight vanishes completely. Which maybe why this is the only honest moral diet, since very few breatherians exist. Thank goodness.

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War Is Peace-keeping

To misquote Orwell.

When is WAR not WAR?

When it is part of a convoluted argument by Progressives For War, (PFW) in order to justify their mistaken allegiance to the Canadian State and its military actions. In this case in both Afghanistan and Haiti. These are NOT WAR's according to the PFW.

This is the argument posed by Skippy the Amazing Wonderdog, and cross posted at the Torch . Skippy sez, and pardon me while I quote him extensively in order to address his argument;

This is not really the case in Afghanistan. The enemy Canadian soldiers face -- or do not face, in fact -- is not organized in any military sense, does not occupy terrain, and cannot be defeated through firepower alone. Calling this a "war" is an attempt to manipulate perception by emphasizing combat operations.

The Taliban certainly are an organized military as they were also the Government and State of Afghanistan and as such can be considered the Government in exile. There are also Warlords, gee that title might hint at their involvement with 'war', who rule a variety of provinces. There is Al-Qaida which was an army in Afghanistan, and of course there are various armed tribal groups spread through out the Tribal districts between the Afghanistan and Pakistan border. All of these are organized Mujahadin armies. Even if they use Guerrilla tactics.

Does it matter what we call it? Yes, it matters a great deal, at least as far as public opinion is concerned. Canadians seem happy to support "peacekeeping," but they aren't so keen on seeing Canadian troops deployed in a "combat role." But what does that really mean?

Peacekeeping which is currently being trashed by the Right and the PFW,is also being dismissed as an outmoded idea by the Conservative government and its spokespersons. Peacekeeping by definition is:

• Deploy to prevent the outbreak of conflict or the spill-over of conflict across borders;
• Stabilize conflict situations after a cease fire, to create an environment for the parties to reach a lasting peace agreement;
• Assist in implementing comprehensive peace agreements;
• Lead states or territories through a transition to stable government, based on democratic principles, good governance and economic development.

What we are not doing in Kandahar is peacekeeping. We are in combat to pacify the province of Kandahar and its surrounding region in order to create the conditions for peacekeeping.

There was plenty of support for a "combat role" in the Balkans, where one side of the civil war had been demonized.

True, especially when the war against Serbia was declared the first Humanitarian War by Clinton. However there were many of us opposed to that war, including some who now support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jingoism and nationalism in this case was replaced with bleeding heart liberalism, the poor suffering Albanians in Kosovo vs. the nasty demonic Serbs. However as that war was conducted and Serb civilians were targeted, the humanitarian gave way to the usual conduct of war. And suddenly it was clear that this was an Imperialist War as all wars are.

Nobody seemed to notice at first that our operation in Somalia was not "peacekeeping," and Canadians initially supported that ill-fated deployment. There would have been little objection to sending troops into Rwanda to stop the genocide by force.

In fact Somalia was a peace keeping mission from the beginning . The failure which led to scandal and national shame, a national inquiry found that the mission was ill conceived from the begining, was that Canadian military leadership failed to define it as a Peacekeeping mission rather than a combat mission. Canadians were led to believe that Somalia was a peacekeeping mission, but with the American involvement it quickly degenerated into another oil war, with the consequences of being a failure for the UN and a disaster for Canadian Forces.

Rwanda on the other had was the result of Imperialist disdain and interference. In this case the interference of France and Belgium, the former colonial masters in that region of Africa, it was their refusal to allow the UN in, and their support of the Hutu subaltern leadership that led to the disaster. The failure of American Imperialism in Somalia, their first defeat in battle since Viet Nam, led them to abandon Rwanda.

There would be, on the other hand, a strong objection to deploying Canadian troops in a "combat role" to overthrow a government -- in other words, to "war" as we usually understand it

Really then what was the coup that Canada supported militarily in Haiti two years ago? Canada led the joint American, French, UN troops in a combat operation to overthrow a duly elected government? And we are still there. Despite the most recent election. These are combat operations, war by any other name.

And in Haiti's case we led those operations, because of Quebec's close relationship with Haiti. In fact as I have written here, it is because both Canada and Quebec view Haiti as our 'neo-colony'. See Gildan Sweat Shop Success Story


So let's ask an expert on War, Carl Phillip Gottfriedvon Clausewitz as to his definition of it;

War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfil our will.

Violence arms itself with the inventions of Art and Science in order to contend against violence. Self-imposed restrictions, almost imperceptible and hardly worth mentioning, termed usages of International Law, accompany it without essentially impairing its power. Violence, that is to say physical force (for there is no moral force without the conception of states and law), is therefore the means; the compulsory submission of the enemy to our will is the ultimate object. In order to attain this object fully, the enemy must be disarmed; and this is, correctly speaking, the real aim of hostilities in theory. It takes the place of the final object, and puts it aside in a manner as something not properly belonging to war.

So yes folks this is a war we are in. And yes we should be opposed to this war.

Those PFW who say this is not war are merely deluding themselves, or like Skippy the Wonderdog barking at the moon.



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Stephen Chretien

Stageleft makes some interesting observations on Chantel Herberts latest column in the Toronto Star comparing, gasp, Stephen Harper to Jean Chretien. Similarities: Harper and Chretien

I personally think a picture tells the story. It's all about the finger.

For two years, Martin navigated with his finger stuck on the pulse of public opinion.

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Price Fixing Booze

This is happening in Alberta home of Free Enterprize.

Drink prices rising?
Alberta is eyeing a minimum price for booze in bars and restaurants in a bid to stop customers from pounding back drinks and pounding on each other.The province is considering the floor price following concerns raised by bar owners, police and municipalities, Gaming Minister Gordon Graydon said Monday."Once upon a time, long ago, Alberta did have minimum drink prices. It would be going back to that policy," he said. He said the issue will be explored at a round-table discussion in Calgary later this month.

So much for the "Free market" in booze. Once upon a time we also had unionized liquor stores run by the province.

It is of course alright to privatize the liquor stores , despite the loss of monies it created, but now the business folks want the State to regulate per shot prices.

Once again proving that the capitalist state exists to do what business wants, not what the supposedly sacred "market " wants. Guaranteed prices means a guaranteed profit, and lessens competition between bars and lounges. Hey isn't that price fixing by any other name? Why of course it is.

Next time you hear the refrain about the need for government to get out of business or how the free market creates competition, remember this. Business hates a free market, it wants an assured market, it wants the state to guarantee its business. Protectionism is ok to these guys until they become a monopoly and then they want markets to open up to them.

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