A radio broadcast made by the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich from the besieged city of Leningrad in 1941. The work he refers to here is Symphony No. 7 in C Major, opus 60, subtitled Leningrad.
ENGLISH TRANS.:
An hour ago, I finished the score of two parts of a large symphonic composition. If I succeed in writing this composition well, if I succeed in completing the third and fourth parts, then it will be possible to call this composition the seventh symphony.
Why do I announce this? So that the radio listeners who are listening to me now will know that the life of our city goes on as normal.
We are all now doing our military duty. Soviet musicians, my dear friends and numerous brothers-in-arms, my friends! Remember that our art is now in great danger. Let us defend our music, let us work honestly and selflessly!
Source: Wikipedia: Shostakovich Radio 1941I urge all musicians to desist from oppression and follow your heart in the face of oppressive forces.
