Last November, at the annual conference for the Society for Music Theory, Professor Philip Ewell gave an address titled Music Theory’s White Racial Frame where he highlighted racism in music theory.
Read the summary of Prof. Ewell’s Music Theory’s White Racial Frame paper.
As anti-racist work has become more popular in light of today’s political climate, this address has sparked national conversation on social media, generating many articles of criticism and support. An article from NPR gives a brief overview of a few responses to Prof. Ewell’s work, even featuring quotes from some of the non-peer reviewed published articles from the Journal of Schenkerian Studies.
Many have released their own thoughts about anti-racist work in the Music Theory field. Adam Neely, a popular YouTube vlogger, breaks down racism in music theory and features an interview with Phil Ewell in his latest YouTube video. Alex Ross has published an article in the New Yorker highlighting and discussing Prof. Ewell’s work and how it pertains to the conversation of challenging White Supremacy in Classical Music.
Watch an additional interview with Prof. Ewell and the CUNY Graduate center surrounding to controversy below.
