In 1957, most 9 year olds like me, were probably practicing hiding under their desks somewhere, after being told the Russians were going to bomb us any day now.
They are communists, they are atheists, they are barbarians etc etc etc.
From http://www.barbwired.com/barbweb/programs/shostakovich_piano2.html
Shostakovich wrote his second piano concerto in 1957 as a birthday gift for his 19-year-old son Maxim, a pianist.
The second movement, Andante, could easily be mistaken for a composition by Rachmaninoff in its soulful sound.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._2_(Shostakovich)
The second movement is far more subdued and romantic, almost as if Shostakovich tried his hand at a Chopin Nocturne. The mood is tender with a touch of melancholy.
Maybe Shostakovich wrote this beautiful Andante Movement from under a desk somewhere.
Maybe he was told the Americans were going to drop bombs on them at any minute.
They are greedy, capitalistic, barbarians etc. etc. etc.
So, maybe he was a little melancholy as well.
Although the concerto as a whole is considered pretty cheerful, by Shostakovichian standards.
