Re: Mel Gibson, The New York Times and Jewish Music

[Alex Lubet <lubet001...>]

In the Times' defense, they did have an article on the Terezin composers, 
esp. Viktor Ullmann, a few months ago.  But David is absolutely right, 
Jewish music has little place in the Times and it's not the only aspect of 
their coverage of Jews/Israel that's been justly criticized  Thanks for 
writing your letter.


BTW, I thought Frank Rich's piece was good and necessary.  We have to be 
vigilant about this sort of thing and, as an aspect of the arts that 
concerns Jews, it belongs on this list (not that anyone's objected).

Shana Tova,



At 02:25 PM 9/25/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>In light of the discussion, which as usual has gone astray, I thought I'd 
>keep it astray and at the same time throw my two cents into the ring by 
>sharing a letter I recently sent to Frank Rich of the New York Times.  One 
>thing it will prove, is that I have an enormous ego, but since you already 
>have probably figured that out try and overlook that element while reading 
>my missive so that you can catch my larger point.  I'll add a little post 
>script to this at the end of the note.
>>Dear Mr. Rich,
>>
>>I've been reading and appreciating your written work for the NYTimes 
>>since you were a theater critic.  I am writing to you now because I 
>>cannot seem to get the attention of the music staff of the Times and I am 
>>at my wit's end about this.
>>
>>I don't think the music staff at the Times is anti-Semitic but they have, 
>>over and over, neglected or simply not discussed music by openly Jewish 
>>musicians in a way that I find troublesome.  In light of the current 
>>controversy that has been raised by MGibson's movie, it is troublesome to 
>>me, as a working Jewish musician, that the Times can spend columns and 
>>columns discussing a film that has the potential to incite anti-Semitism, 
>>but cannot find either ink or Arts Column space to review recordings or 
>>performances by Jewish musicians.  Jon Pareles recently wrote a lengthy 
>>article on worthwhile current world music releases. It was nearly two 
>>full pages in length.  There was not even one Jewish album 
>>reviewed.  Meanwhile I can think of at least four major pieces, including 
>>two by you, about the upcoming Mel Gibson movie.
>>
>>Last month I released The Days of Awe, an album of music for the Jewish 
>>High Holy Days.  It is the first such album ever released by a jazz 
>>musician.  It has gotten some attention in the Jewish press, but I can't 
>>get even an acknowledgement of receipt of the CD from the New York Times 
>>Arts desk (I sent about six copies of the recording to various members of 
>>the Music Staff).  You'd think in a city as filled with Jewish people as 
>>it is, that the New York Times would at least address this new recording, 
>>even if it was to skewer it and give it a bad review.
>>
>>I find this disparity discomforting, but it is also not  unique to the 
>>New York Times.  I live in the New Haven area and  review copies were 
>>also sent to the local papers, The New Haven Advocate, and the New Haven 
>>Register.  Follow ups to these papers netted an acknowlegement of 
>>receipt, but there was no sense of a time-line for a review.  "We're 
>>planning on reviewing it" said one reporter, "but maybe in November when 
>>it is closer to New Years."  It took a lot of explaining to help him 
>>understand that the New Years of this CD is in September!!
>>
>>Anyway, I digress to make my point.
>>
>>I'd be happy to send you a copy of the recording, if you are interested 
>>in hearing it.  I am frustrated, because the NYTimes always has time for 
>>Mel Gibson, it always has time for the Christian rockers, there is even 
>>an article on the front page of the Arts section about the presence of 
>>God on new TV shows, but there are no pieces  for the work that I, or the 
>>many, many other Jewish musicians and singers who are playing sacred 
>>Jewish music of all forms.
>>
>>You were probably not the right person to vent to, but your piece, which 
>>is so well written, hit a vein.  Please keep writing about Gibson and 
>>similar issues, but let's see some positive pieces about people like me 
>>who are making positive creative statements for their people.
>>
>>Best wishes,
>>
>>David Chevan
>>
>>
>>The Afro-Semitic Experience
>>PO Box 6183
>>Whitneyville, CT 06517
>><http://www.chevan.addr.com>www.chevan.addr.com
>>(203)287-5446
>>
>>
>>Here's the post script.  Since writing that note (which I sent as an 
>>e-mail) I have not heard back from Mr. Rich, but I have heard from Ben 
>>Ratliff from whom an e-mail arrived earlier this morning, he writes 
>>"thanks for the album, which I do like.  I have no plans at the moment 
>>for reviewing it at this very moment . . ."
>>
>>So it would appear that the NYTimes continues to do its best to maintain 
>>it's perfect record for reviewing new Jewish recordings.
>>
>>In contrast both the New Haven Advocate 
>>(<http://newhavenadvocate.com/gbase/Music/content?oid=oid:34883>http://newhavenadvocate.com/gbase/Music/content?oid=oid:34883)
>> 
>>and the New Haven Register (in tomorrow's edition) have decided to run 
>>reviews.
>>
>>  . . . . . .and I thought New York was the center of American Jewish 
>> Culture.
>>
>>DC

Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
University of Minnesota
100 Ferguson Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 (o)
612 699-1097 (h)
612 624-8001  ATTN:  Alex Lubet (FAX)

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