But can she play Bach?

The associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and associate professor of piano at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign thinks we are using the wrong composer to assess a student’s musicianship.

From an article inThe Fulcrum by Rochelle Sennet (pictured):

Johann Sebastian Bach continues to be a force of extraordinary influence across classical music, jazz and beyond. Yet this consistency has often led to misconceptions about excellence as well as exclusion of many underrepresented musicians, scholars and concert patrons. It doesn’t have to be this way: Many communities are highlighting the work of Black artists such the Harlem Chamber Players.

Traditionally, throughout history, other composers are evaluated in comparison to Bach. As a Black woman, academic and classical recording artist, I have often heard the question: “Can she play Bach?” As a long-time performer, a recording artist for more than a decade and an educator for more than 15 years, yes, I regularly play Bach’s music.

In a 2022 study, researchers at the University of York found there is an “overall consensus” that Bach’s music “constitutes a transition point between intermediate and advanced musicianship.”

In the recent book, “Expanding the Canon: Black Composers in the Music Theory Classroom,” editor Melissa Hoag writes that “taking the first step of addressing music by non-White composers might demonstrate an acknowledgment of Black culture and history, a recognition that Black composers exist and have existed for a long time, and a belief that music by Black composers is worthy of our time and attention.”

Both works show how strong emotions and opinions emerge across the classical music spectrum, including who is considered to meet the so-called gold standard of music performance.

While there have been recent efforts to be more inclusive in music performance and education, a separation remains in what many consider “high art” and who gets to be a part of it….

Read on here.