Kevin Scott
Tuesday, July 12, 2016, AfriClassical posted a statement by Maestro Kevin Scott:
Today, Wednesday, July 13, 2016, Kevin Scott wrote:
Hello, Bill!
Hope all is well and that you're doing fine. Here is the original rant I posted on my Facebook page;
Kevin Scott:
July 8 at 5:15 am
In the 72 hours since the incidents in Little Rock, Arkansas and
Falcon Heights, Minnesota, the events in Dallas are making things
worse.
I don't know what else to say. I think my only statement in
this matter is to continue posting the works of African-American concert
composers, music that I consider African-American Classical Music,
because this is a legacy that has been neglected, ignored and shunned
for far too long, not only by the white establishment of classical
musicians, but by many blacks as well.
Black audiences cry for role models, the ones that the young can
look up to and fashion themselves after. They see the sports athlete,
the entrepreneur, the pop star and the civil rights activists who are
out in the field spreading the word that we must not go gentle into that
good night.
But what we're not taught are those who have established
themselves in the arts. Acting, directing, painting, writing plays,
composing serious concert works, performing opera and ballet. No. Those
aren't our legacy. That's for white folks only. No honorable black man
or woman should be performing Beethoven, or acting in Shakespeare. And
then when you want to create something of substance, that you get the
call to be a part of the arts profession, you get derided by your peers,
you get chastised by your elders who have suffered the pain of
rejection past, and you have parents and members of your family that
look at you as if you have three eyes and five legs and think you belong
in some sort of insane asylum.
I have been through all of this, and I do my damndest to
survive, to persevere, and I am not the only one. Yes, there are those
who have come from families that nurtured and supported the dream of
those who aspire to make something of themselves and contribute to the
rich legacy that no school will teach you, no teacher can guide you to,
no mentor to stand out in front of you, because you have to seek them
out for yourself, and then there are those who simply have to find
themselves in the face of negation because one happens to think outside
the box and not be part of the status quo imposed on one, part of the
stereotypical system that drags one into the degradation of a dead-end
street.
And now that we have men and women who continue to be subjected
to the violence in a place where it is the land of the free and the home
of the brave, men and women who still aspire to grab onto that ring and
keep their eye on the prize and succeed in a land of adversity, men and
women who simply want to be seen as the equals in the eyes of all who
have come before them and those that seek that better tomorrow.
The music of Black American composers, as well as the
performers of color, be they a conductor or a contralto, a tenor or a
tubist, a soprano or a pianist, do matter, for it is our life, our
legacy, our justice to survive and our just right to be known to the
general public. These are black lives that do matter, and this legacy
should never be shoved into a closet, swept under a rug or locked away
in a desk drawer. These lives and their contributions to society do
matter. Don't let anyone, not even your brethren, say anything
different. Educate and exalt them, and let them see the riches for
themselves.
And here was the follow-up:
A thought came to my head over the past several days: How is it
that Germany has always appreciated conductors of color, but this
country seems to take those same conductors for granted? As of now,
three black conductors have major reputations in the birth land of the
Three B's - the Americans Kazem Abdullah and Brandon Keith Brown, and the German Kevin John Edusei. All three are superlative conductors who have been feted and lauded for their insightful interpretations of the...
masters, and have been defenders of new and exciting composers. These
defenders of the faith should be welcomed in this country, and even
though we have a dearth of Black American conductors, some of whom are
music directors of excellent orchestras (Andre Raphel, William Eddins and Michael Morgan), those same conductors seem not to get the plum gigs these days leading the Big Six in subscription concerts.
At a time when this nation is suffering from racial divide, both
from the outside and within, perhaps we heed to look at the arts a bit
more closely and see a microcosm of what we're viewing on the national
front. In short, music is indeed the healing power to bring everyone
together and be seen as musicians first, and to give those who excel at
their craft the chance to be seen and heard. But if we keep perpetuating
the stereotype, we keep ourselves down on the farm and away from the
whole of society.
Just sayin...
You might want to post these as well...
Thanks, and will keep you posted on any events that are happening!
Yours,
Thanks, and will keep you posted on any events that are happening!
Yours,
Kevin
CommentS by email:
1) Great thoughts, Kevin, and we're all glad that you are giving voice to
what we all are thinking. Glad to see your words getting broad exposure,
for they will surely stimulate the national conversation.
Thanks
for your kind words about my Cayman thing! Means the world coming from
you. I want you to hook up with Sabee sometime; his setup can make
recording your works a more reasonable financial venture. It would be
more expensive than Eastern Europe, but the results will be noticeably
better.
I completely agree with you about the
new Ben Hur. It looks like a huge digital mess, and the music is
unremarkable. Your Ben Hur is fantastic!
Have to get back to it, but wanted to take s minute just to say thanks. For all you do.
JMW [John McLaughlin Williams]
2) Germany? I am not so sure!
Mike [Michael S. Wright]
2) Germany? I am not so sure!
Mike [Michael S. Wright]
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