What a great summary of western music. As a living white man, I also don’t get the criticism of “tokenism” when trying to promote works by underrepresented composers. Yes, some of them will not be great but who cares? White men have benefited from tokenism for thousands of years. Voice promoting is what matters. A not great work, simply for the sake of being played, can lead to someone else commissioning that composer (or some other underrepresented person) to compose a great work. We’ll never know if we don’t try.
a thought- that the "standard" repertoire is considered by the conservative brains and ears to be more dignified, richer in content and history, more old world (Western Europe) rather than new world(USA), with the musty scent of high class. and therefore, everything else must be peripheral. I love most of it too, having spent my life learning how to interpret it.
side note-do you know of a duo by Hilary Tann for oboe and viola, and another by Hilary called The Walls of Morlais Castle, for oboe, viola and cello? Utterly beautiful, evocative of the rough coastline of Wales, immaculately composed. She was a wonderful person, and a brilliant musician. 🌹
Some day, perhaps while I still teach there with 51 years accomplished so not sure for how much longer, I strongly feel that you should be invited to speak and perform at Mount Holyoke College, an institution quite interested in fostering/promoting/learning about LFC’s (Living Female Composers). I will at least seek interest come Fall.
What a great summary of western music. As a living white man, I also don’t get the criticism of “tokenism” when trying to promote works by underrepresented composers. Yes, some of them will not be great but who cares? White men have benefited from tokenism for thousands of years. Voice promoting is what matters. A not great work, simply for the sake of being played, can lead to someone else commissioning that composer (or some other underrepresented person) to compose a great work. We’ll never know if we don’t try.
I love this perspective! Aptly put.
a thought- that the "standard" repertoire is considered by the conservative brains and ears to be more dignified, richer in content and history, more old world (Western Europe) rather than new world(USA), with the musty scent of high class. and therefore, everything else must be peripheral. I love most of it too, having spent my life learning how to interpret it.
side note-do you know of a duo by Hilary Tann for oboe and viola, and another by Hilary called The Walls of Morlais Castle, for oboe, viola and cello? Utterly beautiful, evocative of the rough coastline of Wales, immaculately composed. She was a wonderful person, and a brilliant musician. 🌹
Thanks for your perspective! I enjoyed this a lot.
very much enjoyed reading this post : P
Some day, perhaps while I still teach there with 51 years accomplished so not sure for how much longer, I strongly feel that you should be invited to speak and perform at Mount Holyoke College, an institution quite interested in fostering/promoting/learning about LFC’s (Living Female Composers). I will at least seek interest come Fall.