Beethoven is A great composer, but not THE great composer, according to a music professor who believes it’s time to reframe Beethoven’s greatness “within the context of historic ideals of whiteness and patriarchy.”
“If Americans could acknowledge that our music and music education are deeply rooted in these two ideologies, then we could realize that Beethoven, surely a good composer, was simply one of many.”
@TheConversationUS@blackmastodon The conversation on this subject with regard to Shakespeare has been robust. The outgoing director of the Folger Shakespeare Library really thought it was an important conversation, and the incoming director (a woman of color) is even more devoted to it. It’s a valuable conversation, once you get past the screamers.
@TheConversationUS@blackmastodon This caused some FEELS because I have a deep love of Beethoven. But. The author is not wrong. How many other composers do we not even know because their works were destroyed or overlooked because they are from women or non-European cultures? It’s a sad thought but also makes me want to do more to make sure non-white, non-male voices are heard in all contexts, but especially music.
@TheConversationUS@blackmastodon
Well if we are going to base it on ideals of whiteness and patriarchy then we really need to consider Bach to be the greatest or maybe Wagner.
But if we want to just look at, ya know music quality, then it would have to be Bach IMNSHO.