Thanks to Martin Anderson for posting of this very interesting, moving and
indeed vindicating article on DSCH.  The additional comments by Nora Klein
were also helpful.  I have always felt that Shostakovich was a man of great
courage and endurance, ultimately ground down to an early grave by the
endless stress he lived under.  I was at an ASCAP luncheon in the early
70s at which he given some award (I can't remember the specifics) by
Morton Gould and remember him as a nervous man, trembling, chain smoking -
a survivor of the unspeakable.  Too many of our commentators, reviewers
and music lovers on the list included have no idea of what it took to stay
alive and retain one's moral sense under the Stalinist (and Nazi) madness
and are so quick to judge by eemingly elevated senses of morality.from
their own ever so safe vantage points.  It is a pleasure to read a
passionate defense.  NL has come in for some severe criticisms re his books
and articles but I think the guy genuinely cares for serious music and its
future and is passionate about his likes and dislikes with for the most
part pretty solid arguments.

So thanks for giving a wider audience a chance to read this important
article.

Eric Kisch