Re: Shostakovich

[jcs@grove.ufl.edu]

Bonnie,
	First of all let me just say thanks to everyone who replied to 
the Shostakovich question. I was amazed at how much information was 
presented, and how quickly. 
	As far as my conjecture about GG's attitude is concerned, its 
mostly based on things Gould has said concerning his musical taste. I 
don't claim to be a GG expert, and if I misunderstand or misinterpret GG 
I hope someone will promptly set me straight, I'm not sure where, but I 
seem to remember GG being quoted as saying something to the effect of 
"Most, well, not most, ALL of the music I am interested in is 
contrapuntal."  While I realize that from some perspectives everything 
but absolute monody could be called contrapuntal, I would hesitate to 
call Shostakovich a contrapuntalist by GG's standards. Shostakovich is, 
in my opinion, more along the lines of Bartok, who GG was known to 
dislike ("the most overrated composer of this century"). 
	I have a great affection for Shostakovich's works, but it is 
surpassed by my admiration of GG, so it is more of a guilty pleasure 
nowadays. When I listen to Shostakovich, I hear the the influences of 
Folk music and a tendency towards "vertical" composition which doesn't 
seem to have a place in GG's musical taste. I suppose, to put it 
succinctly, there's just not enough going on.

Sorry to carry on, perhaps next time I'll be better organized in my 
presentation!

Regards,
Jeremy