there are definitely incongruences and bits that feel too much liek parody in shostakovich. I have wondered if these are explainable perhaps in that he was subject to time and editorial pressures from the communist party and Stalin himself, his creative devices subordinated to the need for national propaganda, and knew he existed at the whim of dullards and chance whatever his talent. I know he was subject to many episodes of censorship, for real or perceived taboo ethnic musical references, and ive heard he would sneak some subversive stuff in but that is over my head for now. I think those bits of disorienting clumsiness might be in reference to the foolishness around and above him tho. Just sounds too much like it to me. Hope I can gain the encyclopedic knowledge required to confirm the meaning of these possible witticisms 1 day.
As for the pacing, you might be right to call out good old obvious Lenny. teh consummate showman. but this one got me wet.
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