Racial Purity

[Dan Kazez <kazez...>]

Someone recently wrote:

   >In the 19th century many composers were seeking exotic, romantic subjects 
   >for their compositions. Many were attracted to musical languages other 
   >than the standard European. Many were at first attracted to the folksongs 
   >of their own ethnic group (nationalsim), and then became interested in 
   >those of other groups (exoticism).

   >These trends continued into the 20th century. Bruch wrote a Scottish 
   >fantasy as well as a Kol Nidre. Ravel wrote Greek songs as well as Jewish. 
   >He also wrote the now ubiquitous Spanish Bolero.

   >Should we consider such compositions "Jewish Music?" Why not? Do we insist 
   >that the composer be racially pure? That was the thinking of Wagner (in 
   >the 19th century) and Goebbels (in the 20th century) when they declared 
   >that anyone with Jewish blood was incapable of composing German music.

Perhaps we have gone overboard in our avoidance of a Jewish purity test.  Case 
in point:  In commemoration of the holocaust, I saw on television the broadcast 
of cellist Lynn Harrell playing Max Bruch's Kol Nidre--a non-Jewish performer, a
non-Jewish composer, and German-Romantic music with a hint of Judaism.

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    Dan Kazez/Associate Professor of Music
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