The Concept of Narodnost in the Soviet Music Politics of the 1930s
Keywords:
Neuvostoliitto, kulttuuripolitiikka, narodnost, käsitehistoria, musiikintutkimusAbstract
The article discusses the history and implementation of one of the key concepts of socialist realism, narodnost’ (nationality/being close to people), in the Soviet music politics in the 1930s. The article draws on conceptual history and discourse studies paying special attention to the historicity of politically meaningful concepts. Narodnost’ was a concept, which was used in order to justify the suitability of music from the canon of classical music in the socialist society. The concept brought the discourses of revolution and progress together with more traditionalist views, such as Russia’s imperial history and the Russian high culture, which were increasingly promoted during Stalinism. In the discussions on music, narodnost’ surfaced especially on the last half of the 1930s and it coincides both temporally and thematically with the so-called first anti-formalist campaign in music in 1936. Therefore the article deals with the events of 1936 and the changes in discussions that followed – specifically the use of narodnost’ in connection with the composer in the center of the campaign, Dmitri Shostakovich. His Fifth Symphony is presented as a case study.
