Classical Music Racism

I joined the union. The white Musicians formed a union to try and get more work, but the black players formed their own, and now we’re getting more gigs than we can handle.” (28)

In addition, African Americans were making dramatic strides in the world of concert music at the turn of the 20th century. Black people formed their own symphony orchestras and began to perform regularly in major cities such as Chicago, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.

For instance I know there had to be Kings and Queens of African descent. Also leaders, doctors, psychologist, teachers, scientists, leaders of the world which is why I would to start off trying to answer my main question which is why are we conditioned and only taught about predominately white musicians and make it seem like black musicians were a second choice option or negative choice of study. As Angela Davis points out in Blues Legacies and Black Feminism “Billie Holiday’s songs were subversive in that they offered special privilege insights to black people about the dominant culture…..unlike Bessie Smith and Gertrude Rainy, she did not concentrate on the musical creations of black culture. Rather she body entered the domain of white love as it filtered through the commodified images and market strategies……She revealed to her black audiences what the world of white popular culture was about and invited them to discover how white people acquired a consciousness of love and sexuality that was overdetermined by ideologies of male dominance and heterosexism.(171) This has me invested in it particularly due to the fact that my father is African American and my mom was of European from Germany, and I am able to relate to this subject without being bias. I can’t connect on either side of the fence so to speak and it is easy for me to put myself in the shoes of the very same people I am

This paper is a critique of a production of Show Boat, a musical classic with compositions by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, which was performed and produced by NETworks Presentations LLC at Emens Auditorium on the 14th of February 2001. Clayton Phillips, the director of the production, attempted to test the waters of racial discrimination by exploring controversial themes such as prejudice and interracial relationships. Show Boat takes an enlightened approach to ethnic controversy by using both music and drama to express the feelings and hopes of the characters to the audience. Even though I enjoyed the production, I felt that it was lacking in terms of its plot and may have overused its melodic reprises. However, Show

"The world of classical music - particularly in its European home - was until very recently the persevere of white men" (Gladwel 248). The idea that a woman was not capable of performing the same job designated for men is simply discrimination. Instead, it was a fact in defending the reasons for which a woman could not perform this task, that men produced better music than a woman. In the society, that we live each person has something different; when we see a strange we develop an impression of the personality, abilities, and skills of this person relying solely on past experiences we have. Gladwel says, "music is music" and "the only true way to listen is with your ears and your heart" (251). The ability of a woman when playing a musical instrument is the same as a man, without making a difference in the physical appearance. Not understand how much of that prejudice is clouding our approach is a mistake, that we have to understand and take responsibility. In order to, not repeat the same injustices committed in the past.

Throughout history African Americans have always fought for true equality. Whether it be slave revolts or sitting in the reserved section for whites on a segregated bus, African Americans have stood up for their rights and demanded change in society. One way they fostered a change in society is through the development of music. Historically, African American musicians have uniquely expressed their ideals of the American Dream through musical periods such as jazz, rock, and rap and the historical movements behind them by utilizing their elevated platform to speak about the plight of African Americans and fight for equality through historical protests, music, and speeches.

In The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, music, like boxing gloves can be an equalizer, but it also can be different. In a sense of equalizing we can see music breaking down racism. Doc makes a deal with the kommandant of the Barberton prison. If Doc is to give a concert for the brigadier, then he also must be allowed to give a concert to the black prisoners. “Doc asked if he could give a Sunday concert for all the prisoners” (281).The kommandant agrees and both concerts happen.

What is the purpose of music in society? Foremost, in layman terms, music is just sounds. However, individuals then use these sounds as a medium in order to spread certain ideas and emotions across society. Naturally over time different types of music become associated with different communities; thus, this identification creates an overgeneralized interpretation of who these communities are and what they stand for. One prime example is the stereotype that jazz and swing was the music of the African Americans in 20th century Los Angeles. Even though it may be true, the stereotype does not give an answer as to why or how jazz and swing became to be known as “black music”. In order to answer these questions, it is imperative to know what conditions

George Gershwin‘s opera Porgy and Bess is said to have been racist and outdated even in the time that it was written in 1935. There are many aspects of this work that are incorrect and prolong stereotypes about African Americans by depicting them as violent and religious. Gershwin classified this opera as a folk opera, a term which was offensive to African Americans. George Gershwin, arguably a great composer, composed an opera that is considered to be controversial due to its negative representation of African Americans. Porgy and Bess is a cultural artifact and when discussing it we bring up complex issues of race from the time it was written and even to this day in the United States.

The foundations of today’s popular music were built by an unlikely source: a poor white

As a senior student at Luther College I am conducting research to further my knowledge on Black participation in Opera. As a professional in the field of classical music I am very interested in what your experiences have been like around this subject. I ask that you would take a few minutes to fill out this interview questionnaire. Completing the personal interview should take around 40 to 60 minutes. Completing the electronic interview questionnaire individually should take 20 to 40 minutes. The information obtained from this research will mostly be used to assist in my senior paper research to produce a paper, which may be presented at the Luther College research symposium. Also, this research may help to understand the factors involved in

The broadcasting and recording industries did not solely represent the conquering racial assumptions of the 1950's, they internalized them and helped to continue them. Racial conventions permeated the organization and structure of the music industry at every level. The very existence

To what extent can music provide a means of resistance for challenging the power relations of racism, class and gender?

Although artists do not create certain music to cure diseases or to make scientific or technological discoveries, music is one thing society can never live without. To both artists and their listeners, music provides an indispensible beauty that helps fulfill lives, and connect to nature. Music expresses the human condition in the purest way and affects everyone at a personal level. Plato, a well-known classical Greek philosopher once said, “If you want to measure the spiritual depth of society, make sure to mark its music.” Generally performer collaborate songs to represent the popular pop culture, and social issues, and wish for their society as well as their current era. For instance, controversial issues such as sex, violence, racism

Music is an important part of life. Its role as a form of art and entertainment is a significant one but more important is that it serves to reflect and reinforce societal norms and values. It is not only used to entertain but also serves as a form of social commentary (Baran, 2009). For instance, the emergence of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in America after the Second World War was a means of advancing the black race and it helped blur the line between white and black as more young white people became aware of the distinctions that existed in the society. The Hip-hop and rap of the 1980s and 1990s had almost the same effect, awakening in Black Americans a sense of