DISCOVERING DIVERSE VOICES : REVIEWING THE MUSIC CURRICULUM
Amy Beach Elisabeth Lutyens
Robert Nathaniel Dett
Musical culture needs to acknowledge the pluralism of real-life perspectives . To engage only with music composed by the male half of humanity is not justifiable , and only deepens widely held assumptions and prejudices . In an open letter to the Music department , another OS and musician , William Wood ( OS 2014 ), pointed out that we could do more to engage with the music of the African diaspora , and to challenge the perception that European classical music is at the top of the hierarchy .
Meredith Monk
Lola Perrin
One of the weaknesses with music education in general is that it has become about reproduction and the assessment of manual skills . Students are generally taught how to play a particular piece of music , but not why . It is vital that young people learn how to challenge hegemonies in respect to how knowledge is produced . As the literary critic Edward Said argued , we either critique the connection between our culture and its imperialistic mindset , or by inaction let it stand , unexamined and unchanged .
Lili Boulanger
‘ One of the best things about classical music is its diversity ,’ argued Leah Broad OS in a recent opinion piece in the Guardian .
Lola Perrin image by Richard Kaby Meredith Monk On Behalf of Nature – Brooklyn Academy of Music image by Steven Pisano
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Marianna Martines
Although Dr Broad ’ s words strike an optimistic note , the reality is that this diversity is in perpetual tension with the ingrained conservatism of concert hall programmes , cultural institutions , and when it comes down to it , habits of music consumption . The classical canon of great composers has given centre stage to Beethoven and a handful of other European composers . This tradition is so old and familiar that for the most part we have forgotten how it came about in the first place . As an antidote , Dr Broad , who is a lecturer in Music at Christ Church , Oxford , suggests that ‘ expanding the classical canon brings us incredible music and extraordinary stories ’.
The Music department has taken its first steps by reviewing its curriculum , setting up a Discovering Diverse Voices display , and offering music discussion sessions for the Upper Sixth . The first Discovering Diverse Voices concert featured over ten performances by students , featuring diverse composers including Marianna Martines , Lili Boulanger and Chu Wang Hua . None of the works performed are part of the classical mainstream , and therefore gave students the exciting opportunity to engage with new musical styles , repertories and perspectives . James King ( Lower Sixth ) was particularly enthused by his discovery of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor ’ s oeuvre , saying , ‘ his incorporation of African themes into works stemming from European musical traditions was inspiringly unique ’. But as recent news articles have shown , national exam boards are still slow to change .
As a department we are committed to continually re-evaluating what we teach , as new eras will inevitably create new groups of marginalised voices .
Tau Wey
68 MUSIC REVIEW