Music has long served as a profound force in human society, capable of expressing deep emotional truths, forging community bonds, and challenging oppressive regimes. It transcends mere entertainment—it becomes a lifeline, a mode of survival in times of political and social turmoil. Dimitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60, commonly known as Leningrad Symphony, is a powerful symbol of human resilience and is a reminder that music, too, is a powerful voice that sings defiantly in the face of hardship and oppression.
On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded Russia, and by the end of July, Leningrad, the capital, was taken. For nearly 900 days, “roughly a million of the city’s residents died,” and much of the city was “reduced to rubble” (Magnum, 3). Composed during the siege of Leningrad in World War II, Shostakovich’s seventh symphony served as a political statement and resonated through the streets of Leningrad on August 9, 1942 where starved musicians played the piece, ultimately embodying the city’s defiance and despair. This performance wasn’t merely just a presentation of new music—it was an act of psychological resistance.
Music can engage in the brain’s reward center, releasing dopamine: a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and satisfaction. Music can thus modulate emotions and influence the autonomic nervous system which controls heart rate, breathing, and digestion. Furthermore, music can provide a “space and supportive environment for healing trauma and building resilience” by decreasing anxiety levels (Music, 3). Engaging in music can also facilitate “emotional release” and create a “sense of community”—factors that were vitally comforting to the citizens of Leningrad (Music, 3). On August 9, 1942, ‘Leningrad’ was performed in the plundered city. A clarinet player, Galina Lelyukhina, recalled the rehearsals:
“They said on the radio that all living musicians were incited. It was hard to walk. I was sick with scurvy, and my legs were very painful. At first, there were nine of us, but more people arrived” (Siege, 1).
On that very night, the windows and doors were opened for those outside to listen, and the halls were packed with people. Survivor Iranian Skirpachea remembered the concert as “unforgettable and overwhelming [as] the rhythms incited a feeling of elevation [and] flight” (Siege, 1). ‘Leningrad’ not only offered emotional relief for the citizens, but also played a crucial role in maintaining psychological resilience and morale during a time of siege.
The symphony’s first movement, with its infamous invasion theme, begins as a sinister, soft march that builds into a relentless, overpowering force, symbolizing the brutal advance of the German army but also reflecting the suffocating pressure of living under a repressive regime. Yet, even in this piece, Shostakovich demonstrates the psychological and cultural resistance that could be found within Leningrad’s citizens. The integration of softer melodies amidst the overwhelming march speaks to the resilience of the human spirit: the capacity to find beauty and hope in the darkest, most brutal times. Shostakovich’s ‘Leningrad’ serves as a reminder of how deeply intertwined music is within culture and psychological resilience—even in times of peril, music can uplift, unite, and ultimately sustain the human spirit through its darkest trials.
Sources:
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/power-of-music-in-mental-well-being
https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/4045/symphony-no-7-leningrad
Photo Credit: https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/the-siege-of-leningrad-shostakovich-and-the-airbrushing-of-history/
