Boston Symphony organist is named ‘an imminent danger to students’
mainThe distinguished organist and teacher James David Christie has relinquished his duties at Oberlin College, Ohio, and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester amid a flurry of historic #MeToo allegations.
Christie, 66, is a regular organ soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Former Worcester graduates wrote to the college president, alleging that he ‘is an imminent danger to students on your campus.’
Christie promptly withdrew from his teaching engagements.
The Boston Symphony does not list an organist on its permanent roster, as does, for example, the New York Philharmonic. The BSO’s archive states that he last appeared with the orchestra in the 2007-08 season, when he performed the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, with, curiously, Charles Dutoit conducting. A total of 42 appearances are listed, going back to 1980.
Christie last performed with the Boston Symphony in March 2016. A review of that performance by Jeremy Eichler in the March 18, 2016, Boston Globe is here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/03/18/deneve-boston-symphony-summon-summertime-spirit/uXdwAVIzD3z32DGcoLDbQN/story.html
Maybe they don’t on their website…especially not anymore. But he is listed on the roster in every program I’ve seen when attending a concert! Probably not anymore, though. I’ll be at Tanglewood tonight and see if he’s still on there–surely they couldn’t quickly reprint everything.
That’s false…the BSO does not list any “extra” players in its roster for programs.
improper behavior with students has been going on for centuries:
“Not much is known of the life of the Flemish-born Nicolas Gombert (c1495- c1560), except that his career at the court of Emperor Charles V was interrupted by a period of exile as a galley slave for raping one of his choirboys. ”
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/27/classicalmusicandopera.shopping1
Yeah, leprosy has been around for donkeys years as well. But now we have the opportunity to eradicate both leprosy and sexual abuse in music education. I admire the victims for speaking up.
Wow, I did not know that about Gombert. Especially sad because he composed one of my very favorite pieces in all of music: his “Tulerunt Dominum Meum”. Can I post a link on this site? Here it is, if it doesn’t post, I’ll post a URL string without the link-activity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1uTzJuCAXQ
Accusation…prompt withdrawal from duties, no denial or other statement…
This movement should be called “Him, too.” I am disgusted at the number of men who cannot control themselves, or differentiate between their desires and their responsibilities as a civilised human being.
Yes, this “movement” will probably net some innocents with false allegations. But anyone who doesn’t think that the vast majority of the accusations are true is delusional.
Amen.
While, on balance, I believe most of the accusations that have been made up to now have some truth in them, I also think it is very dangerous to assume this will always be the case.
What you should be disgusted by is the “removal” of people without proof, over “allegations”, without due process. This is shockingly unethical behavior on the part of “victims.” But their feelings apparently matter more than the structure of society and maintaining a system of justice. Indeed, it is a vaunted tradition in music. Why? Perhaps because music requires so much dedication there is no chance for outside relationships, and who can understand a musician better than another one; but also, sex and music itself, love, are hopelessly intertwined. You cannot really understand rhythm and climax without experience sex.
Luigi, you sound like an elementary/primary school music teacher! Exactly what you’d tell the students! Forget that brilliant musicians, Mozart etc etc were great at an early age. And musicians no more dedicated and time given then doctors lawyers bodega workers, truckers…of course you could just be joking
Luigi, while there may be something in what you say, exploiting young people is not teaching them to be better musicians. They will find sex all on their own – just like most everybody else.
If Luigi Nono worte a chamber work for 9 musicians, based on themes from the musical “No, no Nanette”, it would be the Nono “No, no Nanette” nonet.
It’s not the victims who are removing their assailants. (Obviously.) Therefore I’m not sure what you are claiming is “shockingly unethical behavior” by the victims. Making accusations is shockingly unethical? Why on earth? It’s only unethical if the accusations are false. (Again, this is obvious.)
Luigi, I think his resignation from Oberlin spoke for itself. A clear admission of guilt.
Er…not necessarily. Perhaps he felt ashamed about what he thought other people were thinking and saying about him even though he knows it to be false.
the guy was sooooo gay; give me a break; students would not accuse in a vacuum
Luigi-no,no,no,no,no.
you just cannot be serious.