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What So Many BFM Say and Think

I’m thinking about the quote from Philip Smith, former principal trumpeter of the New York Philharmonic, which was in today’s The Article 2.0. It is from an email he wrote to Cara Kizer. It really rubbed me the wrong way when I first read it, but it’s getting worse and worse, so much so that I’m writing about it with a computer and external keyboard (I keep breaking space bars) balanced precariously in my lap from near the bathroom on a smelly Megabus.

“While I do not know facts, and am aware that there is a police investigation taking place, I am greatly distressed by this event and disturbed by the damage this has done to all of us individually, as well as the institution. I am not interested in accusations; that will be determined. But I need to share with you my feelings on this matter. We have been entrusted with the privilege of being caretakers of the heritage of this institution.”

The cultural problems described at the New York Philharmonic in both of these articles are not unique to that one orchestra. It might actually be a unique orchestra which does not possess these issues. Kizer’s alleged rape, with the DNA evidence on the tampon and all of that, is just really obvious and egregious in such a cut-and-dry way.

But variations on these words, spoken and unspoken, afflict so many women, all the time, even those privileged ones who haven’t been subject to the sort of sexual violence described in The Article, but say *just* exclusion, harassment, or constant micro-aggressions.

You could translate Smith’s quote as:

I don’t care what has happened to you. It could be truly terrible, but I am just not interested. The most important thing is our institution and you, your security, your rights, and your human decency need to get in the back seat and shut up. You are hurting the rest of us when standing up for yourself. And you are not important. I have authority on this matter because I am always respected on the basis of my gender.

It’s especially ridiculous when you consider how many women must have been on Kizer’s tenure review committee. Was it zero? A number hasn’t made the press, but given that Amanda Stewart, the first woman hired to the New York Philharmonic’s brass section also didn’t have tenure during Kizer’s bid, I might guess zero of approximately ten, unless other women from other sections were involved. It’s especially ridiculous when the power imbalance caused by a brass section with only two women, both untenured, is considered. It’s especially ridiculous when you consider that the (likely vast majority of) men on that tenure committee probably never even considered sexual violence in the workplace while also dealing with playing their instruments there.

It’s actually really wonderful that we have Smith’s email with this quote. We don’t get to read most other men’s emails who think like this. And some of them are smart enough to not put this stuff in writing. They just live it, do it, and say it.

It’s why the silence is so deafening from so many men.

We can only fix what we know, so having Smith’s letter out in the public is a good start. Do you agree with it or do you reject what it stands for?

Remember that Smith’s letter does not exist as a unique piece of excrement from our industry. It is everywhere and in many forms. It’s why I call on the Philharmonic to release their entire reports (redacted where necessary to protect reporting parties), not just the recommendations from them. Doing so would do other orchestras a tremendous favor, even if it seems pretty unpleasant at first.