--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many consider that Shostakovich is the…" description: "\"Many consider that Shostakovich is the greatest 20th-century composer. In his 15 symphonies, 15 quartets, and in other works he demonstrated mastery of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/dmitri-shostakovich-19403_20th-century_many-consider-that-shostakovich-is-the-g_690438.jpg" --- # Many consider that Shostakovich is the greatest… ![“Many consider that Shostakovich is the greatest 20th-century composer. In his 15 symphonies, 15 quartets, and in other works he demonstrated mastery of the largest and most challenging forms with music of great emotional power and technical invention...All his works are marked by emotional…” quote by Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/dmitri-shostakovich-19403_20th-century_many-consider-that-shostakovich-is-the-g_690438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/dmitri-shostakovich-19403_20th-century_many-consider-that-shostakovich-is-the-g_690438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/dmitri-shostakovich-19403_20th-century_many-consider-that-shostakovich-is-the-g_690438.jpg) > “Many consider that Shostakovich is the greatest 20th-century composer. In his 15 symphonies, 15 quartets, and in other works he demonstrated mastery of the largest and most challenging forms with music of great emotional power and technical invention...All his works are marked by emotional extremes - tragic intensity, grotesque and bizarre wit, humour, parody, and savage sarcasm.” [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shostakovich’s music blends profound emotional depth with daring technical innovation, often juxtaposing tragedy with satire. **In simple terms:** His music mixes deep feeling with bold technique. Key Takeaway Explore both the sorrow and humor in his works. Themes music emotion innovation contrasts history Mood intense reflective bittersweet Type critical analytical inspirational When to use this quote - concert programming - music education - film scoring - cultural analysis - personal reflection Key Concepts 20th‑century composition political expression musical irony Questions to Reflect On - How does irony shape your perception of his pieces? - What emotions do you feel when hearing his contrasting moods? A Different Perspective His style can be inaccessible to listeners unfamiliar with Soviet-era context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bizarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bizarre/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-power/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Parody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parody/) [Quartets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quartets/) [Sarcasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarcasm/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) [Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shostakovich/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) ## Related quotes > [“one of those rare beasts, a popular twentieth-century composer. Yet such popularity soon became confined largely to the amateur realm, and while this would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-frogley/one-of-those-rare-beasts-a-popular-twentieth-century-composer-yet/) [Alain Frogley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-frogley/) > [“In response to a plea in early 1941 from his colleague and friend, the writer Marietta Shaginyan, who was newly infatuated with the Piano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/in-response-to-a-plea-in-early-1941-from-his-colleague-and-friend-the/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [It is a culturally interesting (but also deeply depressing) fact that many religious claims seem to retain their emotional power for believers only if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-a-culturally-interesting-but-also-deeply-depressing-fact-that/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [I never realized before this the emotional power of some really simple, corny tropes: people with top hats, people with batons, confetti going off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-never-realized-before-this-the-emotional-power-of-some-really/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [Simply put, you can read a story in a single sitting and hold it all in your mind. You can experience all of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ross/simply-put-you-can-read-a-story-in-a-single-sitting-and-hold-it-all/) [Adam Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ross/) > [There is a fine line I have to walk throughout the writing process in a novel. It is this line between drama and melodrama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-a-fine-line-i-have-to-walk-throughout-the-writing-process-in/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I wish that our culture could retain the symbolism and emotional power of traditional religion while combining it with reason and science and using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/i-wish-that-our-culture-could-retain-the-symbolism-and-emotional/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [“Many think they play the last act. With life in turmoil, they seem to live the setup of a shattering countdown. To an insistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/many-think-they-play-the-last-act-with-life-in-turmoil-they-seem-to/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [When one read's Kierkegaard's profound analyses of anxiety and despair or Nietzsche's amazingly acute insights into the dynamics of resentment and the guilt and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/when-one-read-s-kierkegaard-s-profound-analyses-of-anxiety-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Given the religious nature and the emotional power of Leftist values, Jews and Christians on the Left often derive their values from the Left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/given-the-religious-nature-and-the-emotional-power-of-leftist-values/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The emotional power of creating something... Nothing gives me as much joy as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid/the-emotional-power-of-creating-something-nothing-gives-me-as-much/) [Sigrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid/) > [When you are at the right age to play Hamlet you are still to young and immature to play it. It is much later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/when-you-are-at-the-right-age-to-play-hamlet-you-are-still-to-young/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [It is as dangerous for people unaccustomed to handling words and unacquainted with their technique to tinker about with these heavily-charged nuclei of emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/it-is-as-dangerous-for-people-unaccustomed-to-handling-words-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Poems are a hotline to our hearts, and we forget this emotional power at our peril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-motion/poems-are-a-hotline-to-our-hearts-and-we-forget-this-emotional-power/) [Andrew Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-motion/) > [The image is a pure creation of the mind. It cannot be born from a comparison but from a juxtaposition of two more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-reverdy/the-image-is-a-pure-creation-of-the-mind-it-cannot-be-born-from-a/) [Pierre Reverdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-reverdy/) ## More by Dmitri Shostakovich > [When a man is in despair, it means that he still believes in something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/when-a-man-is-in-despair-it-means-that-he-still-believes-in-something/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [It's about the people, who have stopped believing because the cup of evil has run over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/it-s-about-the-people-who-have-stopped-believing-because-the-cup-of/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [I don't know what will become of this piece. Our brave critics will no doubt charge me with imitating Ravel's Bolero. Too bad -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/i-don-t-know-what-will-become-of-this-piece-our-brave-critics-will-no/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [I feel eternal pain for those who were killed by Hitler, but I feel no less pain for those killed on Stalin's orders. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/i-feel-eternal-pain-for-those-who-were-killed-by-hitler-but-i-feel-no/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [I always try to make myself as widely understood as possible; and if I don't succeed, I consider it my own fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/i-always-try-to-make-myself-as-widely-understood-as-possible-and-if-i/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [I live in the USSR, work actively and count naturally on the worker and peasant spectator. If I am not comprehensible to them I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/i-live-in-the-ussr-work-actively-and-count-naturally-on-the-worker/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [Football is the ballet of the masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/football-is-the-ballet-of-the-masses/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [Music is good, not evil. Poetry is good, not evil. Primitive, but oh, so true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/music-is-good-not-evil-poetry-is-good-not-evil-primitive-but-oh-so/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [In the long run, any words about music are less important than the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/in-the-long-run-any-words-about-music-are-less-important-than-the/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [Real music is always revolutionary, for it cements the ranks of the people; it arouses them and leads them onward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/real-music-is-always-revolutionary-for-it-cements-the-ranks-of-the/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [The most uninteresting part of the biography of a composer is his childhood. All those preludes are the same and the reader hurries on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/the-most-uninteresting-part-of-the-biography-of-a-composer-is-his/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [The real geniuses know where their writing has to be good and where they can get away with some mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/the-real-geniuses-know-where-their-writing-has-to-be-good-and-where/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [What you have in your head, put down on paper. The head is a fragile vessel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/what-you-have-in-your-head-put-down-on-paper-the-head-is-a-fragile/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [We should think more about it, and accustom ourselves to the thought of death. We can't allow the fear of death to creep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/we-should-think-more-about-it-and-accustom-ourselves-to-the-thought/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [I write music, it’s performed. After all, my music says it all. It doesn’t need historical and hysterical commentaries. In the long run, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/i-write-music-it-s-performed-after-all-my-music-says-it-all-it-doesn/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) [Explore all 32 Dmitri Shostakovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) ## More 20th century quotes > [I think the inhabitants of the past are fighting hard to keep the rents they acquired in the 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/i-think-the-inhabitants-of-the-past-are-fighting-hard-to-keep-the/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [Corporate America is a 20th-century dinosaur, trembling on the edge of extinction, and the only way for you to have a genuinely secure future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/corporate-america-is-a-20th-century-dinosaur-trembling-on-the-edge-of/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free. We sent a generation to college. We cultivated the most educated workforce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-thrived-in-the-20th-century-because-we-made-high-school-free/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I've studied the lives of the 20th century's great businessmen and concluded self-confidence was instrumental in all their success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-spanos/i-ve-studied-the-lives-of-the-20th-century-s-great-businessmen-and/) [Alex Spanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-spanos/) > [Universal literacy was a 20th-century goal. Before then, reading and writing were skills largely confined to a small, highly educated class of professional people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/universal-literacy-was-a-20th-century-goal-before-then-reading-and/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [The great wars of the 20th Century made it into the worst Century ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-great-wars-of-the-20th-century-made-it-into-the-worst-century-ever/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [That is very different from how it used to be in the 20th century. Media was very one way. There's a small little industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/that-is-very-different-from-how-it-used-to-be-in-the-20th-century/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [If you look back on the history of the 20th century, the 19th century or even to the ancien régime of the 18th, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/if-you-look-back-on-the-history-of-the-20th-century-the-19th-century/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Up to the 20th century, we can say that this whole period was an Earth epoch, 'Earth' meaning the riches of the earth, simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/up-to-the-20th-century-we-can-say-that-this-whole-period-was-an-earth/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [I think this century more than any other really has seen the phenomenon of people being uprooted in such numbers, such a degree. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-think-this-century-more-than-any-other-really-has-seen-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [If you look at that incredible burst of fantastic characters that emerged in the late 19th century/early 20th century, you can see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-you-look-at-that-incredible-burst-of-fantastic-characters-that/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [An interesting thing about New Zealand, you know, literature is that it really didn't begin in any real sense until the 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/an-interesting-thing-about-new-zealand-you-know-literature-is-that-it/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [The Warmth of Other Suns is a sweeping and yet deeply personal tale of America's hidden 20th century history - the long and difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/the-warmth-of-other-suns-is-a-sweeping-and-yet-deeply-personal-tale/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) Browse all 672 20th century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many consider that Shostakovich is the greatest 20th-century composer. 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