Dimensions of Energy in Shostakovichs Symphonies

Shostakovichs music is often described as being dynamic, energetic. But what is meant by energy in music? After setting out a broad conceptual framework for approaching this question, Michael Rofe proposes various potential sources of the perceived energy in Shostakovichs symphonies, describing also the historical significance of energeticist thought in Soviet Russia during the composers formative years.