Dimensions of Energy in Shostakovich's Symphonies

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Contents: Preface
Part I Dimensions of Energy: Defining musical energy, projecting energy musically
Energy as melodic-harmonic motion: Yavorsky's 'theory of modal rhythm'
Energy and the unfolding of time: proportional distribution and (im)balance
Form in formation: process and pattern building
Form in reflection: archetype and energy
Symphonism. Part II Applications and Implications: Multi-dimensional energies: Symphony No. 6 (i)
About-face? - Symphonies No. 4 (i) and No. 5 (i)
Shostakovich as symphonist, Shostakovich as modernist: Symphony No. 14
Intention, intuition or a third way? A balanced approach to golden section
Epilogue: using proportions as interpretative tools
Appendices
Bibliography
Index.

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Shostakovich's music is often described as being dynamic, energetic. But what is meant by 'energy' in music? After setting out a broad conceptual framework for approaching this question, Michael Rofe proposes various potential sources of the perceived energy in Shostakovich's symphonies, describing also the historical significance of energeticist thought in Soviet Russia during the composer's formative years. The book is in two parts. In Part I, examples are drawn from across the symphonies in order to demonstrate energy streams within various musical dimensions. Three broad approaches are adopted: first, the theories of Boleslav Yavorsky are used to consider melodic-harmonic motion; second, Boris Asafiev's work, with its echoes of Ernst Kurth, is used to describe form as a dynamic process; and third, proportional analysis reveals numerous symmetries and golden sections within local and large-scale temporal structures. In Part II, the multi-dimensionality of musical energy is considered through case studies of individual movements from the symphonies. This in turn gives rise to broader contextualised perspectives on Shostakovich's work. The book ends with a detailed examination of why a piece of music might contain golden sections.

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