Opus 140 - "So White, So What?"

Explicit content warning

03/02/22 • 128 min

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Brittany J. Green is a North Carolina-based composer, creative, and educator whose works engage everything from Black feminist theory to the rupture of systems. She joins Garrett in this week's third movement to talk about her music, her studies of Julius Eastman, and how differing queer perspectives played a role in 20th century instrumental music. Scott returns to this year's "classical" Grammy conversation, highlights the music of Odetta, and offers his thoughts concerning the conflict in Ukraine. Garrett offers words from Mamie Till, celebrates the "Afro-harping" of Brandee Younger, and digs into the nuances of racism as seen in recent news media. Playlist: Bohdana Frolyak - Clarinet Concerto Miles Davis - "So What" Odetta - "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed On Freedom)" Odetta - "Water Boy" Dorothy Ashby - "Games" (perf. Brandee Younger Quartet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9ghgmH_r0&t=1119s) Julius Eastman - "Stay On It" (perf. San Francisco Conservatory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61pfXwQ1OgI&t=86s) Brittany J. Green - "bluedream" Brittany J. Green - "Portraits for Piano" More: Brittany J. Green: http://www.brittanyjgreen.com Downbeat (30th Anniversary of Emmett Till's Death NBC 1985): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l4droR9W8E Metropolitan Opera says it will sever ties with Putin-allied artists: https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2022/02/27/1083387627/metropolitan-opera-sever-ties-putin-ukraine-gergiev-netrebko Women Composers from Ukraine: https://ukrainianinstitutenyc.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/women-composers-from-ukraine/ How Being Inclusive Can Be Insulting: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/opinion/black-classical-music.html How Odetta Revolutionized Folk Music: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/how-odetta-revolutionized-folk-music Transphobia in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/28/texas-transgender-child-abuse/ Reporters Show Racism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLYYm7GSA-I Florida Don't Say Gay Bill: https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/596178-florida-dont-say-gay-bill-passes-final-senate-committee Anti-Black Sentiments in Ukraine: https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/02/a-cop-in-ukraine-said-he-was-detaining-me-because-i-was-black-i-appreciated-it/

Previous Episode

Opus 139 - Joe Hill

Garrett leads Marble City Opera in the world premiere of "I Can't Breathe" by Leslie Burrs and Brandon Gibson this week, so he and Scott meet virtually to discuss composer complaints about this year's Classical Grammy nominations, the newly-explored political opinions of William Grant Still, and lots more. Garrett features his recent conversation with Damian Norfleet, who will present a musical work on the issues of mass incarceration and solitary confinement in conjunction with Ensemble Pi on March 2nd. In this week's TRILLOQUY movement the guys cover musically-charged racism on a college campus, one orchestra's decision to shift concert attire, and the Kim Potter verdict. Playlist: Ludovic Lamothe - "Album Leaf No. 1" Curtis J Stewart - Improvisation on Paganini Caprice, No. 11: Presto William Grant Still - "The Quiet One" Thee Phantom and the Illharmonic Orchestra feat. Tundé - "Diabolique" (Remix) Carlton Williams - "Prison Song" Ensemble Pi feat. Damian Norfleet - "Requiem..." (https://www.damiannorfleet.com/media) perf. Paul Robeson - "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0bezsMVU7c) More: Damian Norfleet/Ensemble Pi Present "Isolated Triptych": https://www.ensemble-pi.org Marble City Opera Presents "I Can't Breathe": https://www.marblecityopera.com/icantbreathe Downbeat (Testimony of Paul Robeson before the House Committee on Un-American Activities): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhnCrHZkgNk William Grant Still's "Troubled History": https://portlandyouthphil.org/blog/blog/william-grant-still-troubled-history/457/ Composers' Fury at Grammys Shortlist: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/20/how-is-this-classical-music-composers-fury-at-grammys-shortlist?fbclid=IwAR17_wR_r-bqrPw7b_cRHEZBovIEGEcR3u-RRA--3WWMqF_WH-gU6IAVEE8 Black and white at Stanford: https://www.nationalaffairs.com/public_interest/detail/black-and-white-at-stanford TikTok Supports Tameka Drummer: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2021/08/18/tiktok-video-supports-woman-serving-life-after-being-caught-with-marijuana/8176830002/

Next Episode

Opus 141 - Written in Stone

What stories do our monuments tell? What legacies do they embody? What memories do they cement? These questions will be explored at Washington DC's Kennedy Center this month through a collection of new operas, including one called "Rise", with music by Kamala Sankaram. Kamala joins Garrett to talk about her introduction to opera, what "Rise" is meant to relay to audiences, and how this work continues the push for more new music in traditional "classical" spaces. Scott highlights the educational advocacy of violinist Ezinma, Garrett unpacks a musical about a machine that turns Black people white, and the guys continue their celebration of Women's History Month with music by Julia Wolfe, Martha Wash, and more. Playlist: Mykhailo Verbytsky - "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" (Ukrainian National Anthem) Ezinma - "Ode To Hustle" Black Thought - "Thought Vs Everybody" Julia Wolfe - "Reeling" SNAP! - "The Power" Black Box - "Everybody Everybody" C+C Music Factory - "Everybody Dance Now" Martha Wash - "I'm Not Coming Down" Bombay Rickey - "Megalodon" Bombay Rickey - "Taki Rari" Francisco Mignone - Concertino for Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra More: Kamala Sankaram: https://www.kamalasankaram.com The Kennedy Center Presents "Written in Stone": https://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/home/2021-2022/written-in-stone/ Downbeat (Kira Rudik Honors International Women's Day): https://twitter.com/kiraincongress/status/1500962456763514883?s=20&t=SP3akLIePrwyJdZhTGH_bQ Valery Gergiev, a Putin Ally, Fired as Chief Conductor in Munich: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/arts/music/valery-gergiev-fired-munich-ukraine.html Ezinma Brings Music To Underserved Youth: https://www.thestrad.com/news/beyonces-violinist-launches-foundation-to-bring-classical-music-to-underserved-children/14537.article A machine turns Black people white in the musical 'Black No More': https://www.npr.org/2022/02/14/1080160459/black-no-more-machine-musical-tariq-trotter EU Official Calls Refugee Discrimination "Fake News": https://twitter.com/TNTVIRALUS/status/1499336460671107077?s=20&t=0mROEqSx7G6BntC0IrqVYA