by Kile Smith | Oct 22, 2012 | Classical music, Composition
[Reprinted with permission from the Broad Street Review under “From Beethoven to Wagner: The political uses and abuses of music”] Before you hear any more of my music, maybe you were wondering whom I’m voting for. We’ll get to that after a word from...
by Kile Smith | Aug 22, 2008 | church music, hymn, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
The story goes that Stalin wanted a national hymn written and asked Shostakovich, “Will three months be enough time?” and that the composer answered, “Five days will do.” This is how I heard it. Shostakovich didn’t get the job, but I’ve often recalled the story...
