"Positive discrimination", (which is negative discrimination seen from a different angle) can be effective in some instances, but it can also end up like a patronising freak-show, and I fear that could happen here.
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Who do you think are the freaks?Comment
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But if we were offered celebrations of, say, Finnish, Polish or even British Music, would the same objections be made? ("What's so special about Polish Music?" "The problem with making Finnish Music the focus of a 'celebration' like this is that it could end up as a tokenist freak show." "Surely it doesn't matter if it's British Music - all that matters is whether or not it's good.")
The point is to draw attention to obscure and unfamiliar repertoire (and should be applauded for that alone) - that the Beeb is using IWD as the focus for the timing of the week is no more hilarious than using St Andrew's Day for a week's focus on Music in Scotland would be. Why Alpie should "fear" "a patronising freak-show" when the focus is women composers is something I don't follow. Hasn't happened with Composer of the Week - instead, we've had excellent Music broadcast that should be a more prominent feature of concert and radio programming. I suspect there will be much more of this quality.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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I was limbering up to post and realise you've said exactly what I was going to say!Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Quite so!Originally posted by Caliban View PostI was limbering up to post and realise you've said exactly what I was going to say!Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750Comment
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I don't think of anyone as freaks (except possibly moiOriginally posted by jean View Post
) but a broadcast which patronises, as there is a danger of happening here, it can, and sometimes does, end up this way.
Unlikely, but the difference here is that Polish music often has significantly different characteristics from Finnish or British music. Music composed by Ethyl Smythe does not sound as though it were composed by a women, any more than her male contemporaries' music does.Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte
But if we were offered celebrations of, say, Finnish, Polish or even British Music, would the same objections be made?Comment
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There is a point in celebrating great music from different cultures as the culture often affects the sound and style of the music? German, French, Italian, Spanish, English, American music all have different "local" influences which is indeed something to 'celebrate' whether the music is composed by men or women.
I don't see the point celebrating 'gender' or 'race' just for the sake of it as both are wholly 'accidents of birth' and, in themselves, have nothing whatsoever to do with individual achievement.Comment
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Well, the new Radio Times is out - looking at the R3 schedules for next week, has the "fear" you referred to been justified? And you did use the phrase "a patronising freak show" with specific reference to "here" - ie the women composers featured in the days around IWD - and I still do not follow why a series of programmes of Music by women composers should prompt you to use such a phrase.Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View PostI don't think of anyone as freaks (except possibly moi) but a broadcast which patronises, as there is a danger of happening here, it can, and sometimes does, end up this way.[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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Well, the point (whether you see it or not) is that there is a significant repertoire of excellent Music that has been written in defiance of strictures that condemned certain members of the human species to a particularly restricted lifestyle just because of that very "accident of birth". To have produced work of such quality in such circumstances is a feat of considerable "individual achievement" that deserves "celebrating".Originally posted by P. G. Tipps View Post[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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So gender hasOriginally posted by P. G. Tipps View Postnothing whatsoever to do with individual achievement
OOOPS wrong planet?
Whether you think there is a "point" or not, has (thankfully) nothing to do with anything at all.Comment
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Gender issues in the world of classical music nowadays concern the prevalence of girls taking up musical instruments. Boys need the determination of a Billy Elliott.Comment
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Originally posted by MrGongGong View Post
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Well, on the contrary, it has to do with everything, you see ....Originally posted by MrGongGong View PostSo gender has
OOOPS wrong planet?
Whether you think there is a "point" or not, has (thankfully) nothing to do with anything at all.
Just because some keep claiming there isn't a point when a point clearly exists is the whole point of continuing to make the point, however utterly pointless in the end that may well turn out to be, Mr GG!Comment
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It's rather patronising and arrogant IMV to suggest that (assuming that you are a man?) there's 'no point' in celebrating music by women when you aren't one yourself.
Maybe (and I know this to be the case for many women composers I have met) there IS a great deal for us to discover that would otherwise be overlooked.
Some music DOES concern itself with gender issues, or are you suggesting that somehow that's not allowed?
Next time I see Pauline Oliveros i'll suggest she asks your permission to write something?
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