Just listened to Sibelius ...

[Jeebo]

... his fifth and third symphonies. I love Sibelius, especially those two symphonies, and the violin concerto, and I could put The Swan of Tuonela on a loop and listen to it all day. However ...

One thing I always wonder about classical music is, Why is it always only White people? Those two orchestras had not a single Black face in them. There might have been one or two Asians in there, but why do Black people never have anything to do with classical music?

Somewhere on YouTube there's a recording of ... I think it's one of Beethoven's piano concertos or symphonies, and Leonard Bernstein is conducting the Vienna Philharmonic that has not only all White people, but also, only men. This really bothers me, and it's why I'll never again watch a Leonard Bernstein/Vienna Philharmonic performance of anything.

I hope it's not inappropriate for me to be bringing this up, but I don't believe it is. I think it's perfectly appropriate to note something that is of obvious sociological significance and to try to identify what that sociological phenomenon is. Why do Black people never have anything to do with classical music?

-- Ron

[FM123]

1. Here in South Florida we have Black Violin!

My son took me to see them in concert on my last birthday and I recommend them to anyone who has the chance to go.

&ab_channel=PBSNewsHour

[elleng]

2. History, Custom, Demographics

[303squadron]

3. Economics?

Can Jon Baptiste make more money playing a Mozart piano concerto or playing the music he plays now?

Could Condi Rice make a living playing Brahms intermezzos?

Then too, check out the upcoming concerts of your local symphony orchestras. Isn't most of the repertoire written by white European men? Hey, its great stuff and I'm not knocking it but it might be hard to relate to. Your local AME church choir singing Machaut would be an experience, but I don't think its ever happened!

[bahboo]

4. you will find more and more people of color and women involved in classical music...

may have to look a little bit. Here in LA, the LA Phil is very diverse and plays a wide range of music composed by POC and women. The times are a changing', and that's good thing...