Asians Represented in Classical Music. But are they visible?


Artists of Asian descent have long been subject to racist allusions and insults, and at least back in the 1960s and 70s, when musicians immigrated to the United States from Japan, Korea, and other parts of East Asia to study and perform. 1967 statement Time magazine’s article titled “Invasion from the East” reflected the thinking of the period.

“String instruments were physically ideal for Orientals: their nimble fingers, so proficient in precision lines and other crafts, were easily adapted to the demands of the keyboard,” the article said.

Over time, Asian artists have earned a place in orchestras and on the concert circuit. According to the League of American Orchestras, as of 2014, the last year for which data are available, Asian musicians made up about 9 percent of large ensembles; In the United States, Asians represent about 6 percent of the population. The numbers are even higher in famous groups such as the New York Philharmonic: Asians now make up a third of this orchestra. (In Europe, it’s often a different story: In the London Symphony Orchestra, for example, three or less than 4 percent of the 82 players are of Asian descent, while Asians make up over 18 percent of London’s population.)

Yet racist portrayals of Asian artists persisted. Some chefs said they looked like computer engineers, not classical musicians. Others were described as too weak and young to be taken seriously by selection committees. Still, others were told that their names were too foreign to be pronounced or remembered.

“You are being erased as an automaton,” said Akiko Tarumoto, assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tarumoto, a 44-year-old Japanese-American, said that Asian musicians in the Philharmonic Orchestra are sometimes confused with each other, and that in other ensembles he has heard fellow musicians refer to the new recruits simply as “Chinese girls”.



Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *