Ron Chaplin:

>The fact that he also wrote this delightful "light music" breaks all
>barriers of my understanding and appreciation of the composer.

This is, I think, why Shostakovich is a really great composer: his
emotional range.  One of my favorite light pieces is his Festive Overture.
"Light" might be the wrong description -- "joyous" better.  Also in this
category, the Piano Concerto No.  2, which (unlike the first) can't be
mistaken for satire.

Steve Schwartz