Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Classical Music’s White Male Supremacy is Overt, Pervasive, and a Problem (Barf Alert)
Scapi Magazine ^ | 2/18/2018 | DANIEL JOHANSON

Posted on 02/19/2018 11:33:38 AM PST by bkopto

Over the week, there have been waves of backlash at The Metropolitan Opera’s newest season announcement. A recent Washington Post made the rounds, taking to task the institution’s insistence on an entirely white and male composer list, as well as a completely male roster of conductors taking the podium.

As a white man, there have been and continue to be countless times in which I have needed to recognize that privilege, white supremacy, homophobia, toxic masculinity, and gender normativity are layered issues. It’s easy to call a Nazi a racist because they are so obviously a racist. Not all racists are willing to take up that mantle.

Recognizing that Classical Music has implied White Supremacy for centuries is hard for those that study the art form. In fact, that correlating The Met’s continued programming of dead white men to the rise of White Supremacist tendencies in America is not a far stretch is starting to become apparent to those that follow and review the company’s season announcements.

Of course Italian Opera traditions are rich and are the backbone for many composers, but when an American institution, founded on the grounds of Natives and whose nation’s economy was fueled by the labor of slavery continues in 2018 to program exclusively white men, there’s a message being sent to those who don’t fall into that category.

“You need to prove yourself extraordinary, so work harder and watch your step.”

(Excerpt) Read more at scapimag.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: academicbias; classicalmusic; endwhiteshaming; racism; waronwhites
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 last
To: lee martell
What does she do? Or what kind of music does she make?

Here's a sample

ML/NJ

81 posted on 02/19/2018 5:40:42 PM PST by ml/nj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain

I stand corrected. Being a Beta or Charlie Male would be a major promotion for “him.”


82 posted on 02/19/2018 6:01:08 PM PST by Midwesterner53
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Publius

We are going to Porgy and Bess this weekend. I hope that the performance does not copy the Met’s. Gershwin was a one-of, who combined jazz and bent notes from blues into his compositions. This is the reason Ravel would not take him on as student, because he saw that Gershwin was different and he did not want him to copy classical composers and lose his special gift. The mistake the Met made was to sing Girshwin like you perform any other opera. It comes across flat and unnatural.


83 posted on 02/19/2018 6:11:23 PM PST by PUGACHEV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: PUGACHEV
Gershwin: "Porgy and Bess," 2 songs

After "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" and a recitative, Gershwin writes the first rap song.

84 posted on 02/19/2018 6:27:27 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius available at Amazon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: PUGACHEV

Gershwin was not a classical composer.

He was a popular song writer.

He never learned even the basics of orchestration.

American composer Ferde Grofe orchestrated “Gershwin’s” Rhapsody in Blue.


85 posted on 02/19/2018 6:28:57 PM PST by MarvinStinson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: lurk

Bach is my favorite composer. He always put this at the end of his compositions:

Soli Deo Gloria — To God Alone Be the Glory


86 posted on 02/19/2018 6:35:22 PM PST by Polyxene (Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Polyxene

There is certainly a lot to admire about Bach. Listening to him reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of those jewel box Roccoco pilgrimage churches in Bavaria.


87 posted on 02/19/2018 7:01:54 PM PST by PUGACHEV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: bkopto

Let’s see, classical music, huh?

Invented in Europe, the native land of the Caucasian people, who where white. Check.

Who, at the time, were in a male dominated society, at least in so far as having a profession went. Check.

Inspired by the musical forms of their ancestors, religion, technical progress, metallurgy, and craftsmanship. Check.

So I guess you could say, the music INVENTED by white, European, Christian males is what....?

White, Male and Christian? Who would have thought!!!


88 posted on 02/19/2018 7:17:42 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (Keep fighting the Left and their Fake News!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: amihow
Here's a few hints:

  1. Most of them are deceased.
  2. They sell record albums in venues which sell quality music, not your musty cover stores for drug sales.
  3. They are popular in places such as Eastern Europe and the more civilized parts of Asia which still appreciate classical music.

    George Gershwin was arguably one of the world's first jazz masters or at least classical-jazz fusion. Ever heard of him? Or Miles Davis?


89 posted on 02/20/2018 6:06:16 AM PST by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

Bmfl


90 posted on 02/20/2018 6:18:31 AM PST by ExGeeEye (For dark is the suede that mows like a harvest.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: ADemocratNoMore

Pat Benatar also trained in opera singing (don’t know how long), but she became a rock singer. I like Pat’s cover of “Wuthering Heights.”


91 posted on 02/20/2018 7:51:49 AM PST by Cecily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: bkopto
Coming soon...

Choppin'
Moes-Art
LeBeethoven
V'Erdi
$hit-Liszt

T'Chaikof-Skee

92 posted on 02/20/2018 7:57:17 AM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

And that is one of the jazz classics written and performed by just about the absolute best that ever walked the planet and played a horn.


93 posted on 02/20/2018 7:58:27 AM PST by VietVet876
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: N. Theknow

Don’t forget:

Brahmz
mayBACH
Hey-Din
De’Bus-EE


94 posted on 02/20/2018 8:23:19 AM PST by Cecily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

Yes, of course we all know Gershwin, but his accomplishments are not in jazz, but in more classical works influence by many genres.

Miles Davis was a favorite of those hanging out in the dark bars and coffee houses in the fifties. I remember going into one of those tune in drop out temples of nihilism and hating it and their music then.

Davis may have been a good musician, but his jazz not.

Do not want to insult you, but I still hold that jazz and hip hop and rap do ugly things to the human brain and how it works.


95 posted on 02/20/2018 9:48:26 AM PST by amihow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson