[awillen]

I exercise for my blood pressure (you might've caught that in the comment you were responding to), but thanks for the suggestion!

He specifically says classical music is the only acceptable kind, and the vast majority of the history of classical music was devoid of non-white people.

You should read the things you're responding to a little better - it'll do wonders for your comprehension.

[maininformer]

Because non-white people do not have classical music? I agree with the parent, you see racism where it doesn't exist. Why would your mind go to only "white" classical music?

PS I'm Iranian-Armenian; both have rich "classical" music history. I have myself enjoyed Celtic, Chinese and Japanese folk music. Music and rhythm is so ingrained in us that I don't need to do research to know all other nations had music in all eras too.

[Jtsummers]

The blogger uses Big-C Classical Big-M Music, which almost always means European classical music, pre-1900 [0]. You won't find many non-white composers in that particular group.

Capitalization matters, it creates a proper name out of something whether we agree on that name's appropriateness or not (Classical Music being so narrowly defined could be considered a misnomer, as you've pointed out there's a lot more classical music out there).

[0] I couldn't remember when I initially wrote this when the Classical Period ended, it ended earlier in the 1800s than I realized, by the common definition apparently 1820. The start was 1730 (using the earliest time people use to be generous) so "Classical Music" defines a period of less than one century of, specifically, European music.

[kazinator]

Classical music doesn't need a big C or M. Simply the lack of additional qualification in "classical music" informs us that it's the historic western practice. Other classical musics are identified as such, e.g. "Indian classical music". Or else a context is established where that qualifier is understood, and then "classical music" refers to "Indian classical music".

[llbeansandrice]

> Why would your mind go to only "white" classical music?

Because the literal definition of "Classical Music" is Western music from the period of 1750 to 1820. The "Classical Period". [1] It is by definition music from old white dudes from Europe.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music

[Apocryphon]

It's not an unreasonable assumption given the website's graphics all focus on Western European classical art, it's even in the hyperlink. How often do such people mean classical music of non-European genres when they refer to classical?

[34679]

I notice you don't decry the lack of female representation in classical music. Is that because you're sexist?

[Apocryphon]

There isn't a lack of female representation in classical music. There were fewer composers or performers before modern times, but hardly unknown.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_composers_by_bi...

https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/page/1900

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/great-women-...

[34679]

One can also find lists of prominent non-white composers:

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/black-composers-who...

https://adaptistration.com/2018/06/04/the-composer-diversity...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_composers_of_African_d...

[JohnWhigham]

the vast majority of the history of classical music was devoid of non-white people.

But it's a disingenuous (and sadly all-too-common) leap to conclude they're racist. People like different things. Get over it.

[maininformer]

Amen

[unethical_ban]

The point is that you directly suggest that to hold classical music in high regard could be a signal of racism.

So you just said to every person who prefers classical music, "Hey, I think you could be a racist because I correlate a fondness for classical with racism."