support was a demonstration of its power to make an individual conform to its beliefs. In the Fifth Symphony, Shostakovich placated the party yet expressed his feelings and those of the public. As World War II engulfed the Soviet Union, and Leningrad fell under siege Shostakovich composed the Seventh Symphony. This symphony was completed in December of 1941. However, according to Shostakovich, the Seventh Symphony was conceived prior to the attack by Germany on Leningrad. As he planned the first movement, the atrocities of his government were foremost in his thoughts. When the Nazi invasion occurred his thoughts seemed to transform, and he was envisioning the city ”that Stalin destroyed, and Hitler merely finished off.” Shostakovich wanted the music to depict evil and tyranny inflicted by Germany on his country and also the evil and tyranny being inflicted on the Soviet people by their own government. However, he could only emphasize the German terror in public. Censorship decreased during the Nazi invasion which gave Shostakovich more artistic freedom. He wanted this symphony to reach a large audience, and he was inspired by Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. The Seventh Symphony used both Russian and German themes that the government greeted with approval. For example, the first movement known as the invasion theme could be interpreted as the negative encroachment of the Nazis as they come into power in Germany and impart their ideals and views on the German people. This is similar to how the Stalin regime transformed the views of the Soviet people. The snare drum solo could represent the agitation and the poor situation of the Germans after World War I. Next the Nazis introduce their ideals and begin to take over with grandiose promises of jobs and prosperity for all, similar to the promises made by the Stalin regime. This could be represented by the flutes playing a lyrical melody over a dissonant accompaniment that represent the underlying evil. Also detected in this movement is “Da geh’ ich zu Maxim,” from Franz Lehár’s operetta The Merry Widow, one of Hitler’s favorite operas. In addition, the descending progression of bar seven resembles Deutschland Über Alles. These were the German themes represented in the movement. As this movement continues, it becomes more and more dissonant and urgent giving the impression of a fall into the adversity of the war. Shostakovich represents both the Russian plight under Stalin and the aggression of the Nazis through this section. Shostakovich represents both the Russian plight under Stalin and the aggression of the Nazis through this section. The Soviet government supported the negative Nazi themes. Parts of this symphony were composed during the actual siege during air raids and attacks. During the first few weeks of the siege, Shostakovich refused to evacuate and continued writing. He hoped that he would create a piece that would boost the morale of the Russian people. The Leningrad Symphony as a whole, while sharing some similarities with its earlier counterpart, is stylistically quite different and shows a slightly different side to Shostakovich’s writing. The Fifth Symphony contains melodies that are lush and flowing. It reflects Shostakovich’s transformation as a good Soviet composer. The overall mood of the Seventh Symphony can be viewed as more nationalistic, reflecting what was occurring at this time in Soviet history. There are fewer flowing melodic lines, and he also plays with>