THIS from an organization that promotes classical music? A European musical style which has always considered itself superior to every other form of music—meaning superior to non-European, non-white musical styles.
If I was a minority student, I wouldn’t be interested in participating in an organization whose premise is the music produced by my ancestors was inferior to music originated by a bunch of white Europeans.
As a kid growing up in GA I listened to R&B (Augusta roots), southern rock (South GA/North Fl roots) and bluegrass (North GA roots)—music produced by the culture I grew up in. I deeply resented it every time I heard someone talk about the superiority of classical music (with its implied message that the music I listened to—the music my culture produced—was somehow inferior).
Maybe the ASO should look in the mirror and consider the racism it promotes with its focus on classical music.
There's some lousy classical music (people trying to write in the idiom and not succeeding), but the good stuff is superior to anything else. Its history goes back to the Greeks, Plato and Aristotle, and in theory and exposition it is centuries ahead of local folk music. Composers like Josquin and Ockeghem were writing stunningly complex and beautiful music before America was even discovered.
Josquin, "Tu pauperum refugium"
Ockeghem, "Gloria, Missa Mi-Mi"
A little closer to our own time, and more comfortable for modern ears, is the Elizabethan madrigal tradition: Weelkes, "Hark all ye lovely saints above"
Think of it as an edge in both 'time in grade' and sophistication. It's all those 'dead white guys' again.
I too grew up listening to R&B, bluegrass, and growing up in TX and NM, a lot of 'western' stuff. But, I was being taught classical music on the piano - and I hated it - ten years of it, and I dropped it forever.
Well, on a purely musical basis, you can't seriously compare the organizational effort and intellectual acumen required to compose and perform a symphony to churning out 3 chord songs. I'm a producer and believe me, anybody and everybody can do the latter - I have shelves of masters of talented songwriters and performers that few will ever hear - people who would put Jim Croce, Billy Joel, Robert Johnson to shame.
But compose a symphony? There are maybe a handful of people in North America who can put one together. One of them, Theofinidas, ironically, practices a style of composing that has come to be known as the "Atlanta School".
I agree. I hate classical music and to me, Bluegrass, R&B, Gospel and Country music are real music. The only way I want to hear a violin is when it is used as a fiddle. LOL Banjos and fiddles are REAL music to my country mountain ears!
They opera and classical type music is just “rich white people” music to me and I’m white. Hate it!