A classical violinist of great wealth and privilege publicly posts a
tweet that could, at best, be described as racially insensitive concerning
Chineke! - a newly formed all-black orchestra in Europe.
The half-white, half Asian Anne Akiko Meyers represents the two tribes
that overwhelmingly dominate classical music now. Koreans came to Western music
after the Korean War, the Japanese after WWII and the Chinese after Mao. Like
Russia during Peter the Great, this assimilation and dissemination of European
art was one effort to compete with the mightier and more affluent West.
History has condemned people of color to a disadvantage, and if this reality
and the attitudes of non-minorities are changing slowly, anything that makes
this transition easier is welcome. Classical music is immensely expensive;
besides decades worth of lessons there is the issue of equipment; a fine career
in this fiercely competitive field demands the very best of what can be often
priceless instruments. Could this be why there seem to be more black opera
singers than instrumentalists?
Generations
of support from a culture that treasures and nurtures this art-form increases
the exposure and the chance of developing creative genius. Why would black,
Latino or Muslim people bother themselves with the music of an oppressive class
as they struggle to feed their families? The Sphinx foundation in America has
to be applauded: it has made a great difference in giving minorities a helping
hand into this rarefied realm. The brand new Chineke! Orchestra will certainly
reveal this music to many that would not have heard it otherwise.
Is an
all-black orchestra a gimmick? Yes. Is it necessary? Most definitely,
especially if you value the music of the west of the past half-millennium as
representative of arguably the greatest period of humankind. It has been noted
that the Chineke! is not needed, because music is a universal language. Music
IS universal, but the language must be learnt to be understood, to be
essential.
Anne Akiko Meyers’ post read "I wonder if you have to be black to
solo with this orchestra? #reversediscrimination.” As it is well known
she has two Stradivaris and a Guarneri del Gesu whose combined value exceeds
$20 million, it colors the tone of her comment, coming thus from the pinnacle
of the socio-economic scale, to a one of a petulant brat. It is apparent that
she realized the foolishness of posting a racial indictment and deleted it very
quickly. Until a torqued apology was finally forced from her many days later,
none of the usual blogs, broadsheets or magazines picked up on this story,
despite the online firestorm of consternation. We wonder just how much
that cost.
An
excellent opportunity to explore to the roots of who should share in this art
has been squandered.
It is
time for all of us to look in the mirror, and say honestly what we see. In the
words of the immortal Pete Seeger:
"We've
all been living upside down
And turned
around with love unfound
Until we turn
and face the sun.
All of us, yes
everyone.”
