Shostakovich #5


Today we'll listen to Bernstein's 1979 Tokyo recording of Shostakovich #5.

Is it proof of the rehabilitating force of the Communist Party, or the Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy segment of Ren & Stimpy? That, of course, depends on you. Our old friend Structuralism says it means all the meanings it is capable of meaning. Well, unless you're lying and it didn't actually mean what you said it meant for you. I know that's confusing, but remember that Shostakovich said whatever Shostakovich thought Stalin thought Shostakovich should be thinking and the actual truth of anything is completely absent. 

At least WE can all agree what constitutes unpremeditated murder again. Good.

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