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COMING SOON: My new book on Dvorak's New World Symphony! (A thread--stick around for a discount opportunity at the end) 1/
This book grows out of my abiding interest in the historical significance of racist ideologies in American classical music--a topic I've explored in my newsletter and elsewhere. 2/ https://classicalalternative.substack.com/p/what-is-american-music
When I interviewed for my current position at Vanderbilt, I anticipated that I'd examine the history of slavery in the USA as a marker of national musical identity, not realizing that my first major effort would become this book. (My AMS proposal was rejected...) 3/
Dvorak came into view as I was finishing my book "Orchestrating the Nation" in the fall of 2014. Chapter 12 discusses symphonies written by American composers during the 1890s and uses Dvorak's 1892-95 US residency as a contextual touchstone. 4/
I realized I had WAY more interesting stuff than I could ever squeeze into a chapter, so I began planning a new book specifically to expand on a few main kernels of chapter 12. Lo and behold...this short book 6 years later! 5/ https://global.oup.com/academic/product/antonn-dvoks-new-world-symphony-9780190645632?q=Shadle&lang=en&cc=us#
As the description on the back cover illustrates, what I've done is provide the richest contextualization of this iconic and canonical piece to date--a context marked by racial injustice to the core. To that end, my main argument is this: 6/
Here I've used the word "crystallization" because one of the biggest questions non-scholars ask about cultural musicology is--"OK, can you hear it in the music?" My answer in this book is YES, YOU CAN. And I've provided a mountain of evidence offering a new listening pathway. 7/
Soup to nuts, including the endnotes, the book is only 174 pages divided over 8 chapters, a prologue, and an epilogue. It can definitely be finished in one or two sittings. 8/
The first 5 chapters each focus on central topics in classical music discourse: (1) the development professional music ed; (2) the reception of D's music; (3) the conflict over absolute/program music, (4) defining national musical identity, (5) US musical identity. 9/
Everything comes to a giant climax in chapter 6, when I discuss Dvorak's commentary about American musical style and the kaleidoscope of responses it elicited. 10/
To my knowledge, no one has amassed as many unique contributions the months-long public debate about these comments as I have, the most substantial of which appear uncut in this book. 11/
Chapter 7 intensifies the story even more by shifting the focus squarely onto the Black musicians and intellectuals who called out dozens of racist commentators for who they were. 12/
Chapter 8...well, you know how some movies end with an epilogue about what happened to all the main characters afterward? That's what we have here, and it's a real roller coaster. 13/
After reading the book, no one will be able to deny that pieces of classical music have instigated racist backlash, thus laying bare the attitudes of many people who participate in the industry. 14/
I couldn't be more thrilled with the extremely generous advance praise from Aaron Dworkin and Anne Midette, both of whom captured everything I was going for, and more. 15/
For anyone who enjoyed my piece on these topics in the New York Times, this book is definitely for you because it fleshes out every detail and includes countless more. 16/ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/arts/music/dvorak-new-world-symphony.html
My first "launch" event is next Monday, January 18, at 3PM Eastern, under the auspices of the Dvorak American Heritage Association and Mike Beckerman. 17/ https://www.dvoraknyc.org/new-events/2021/1/18/special-martin-luther-king-day-presentation
Musicologist Dr. Marcus R. Pyle and I will discuss if the US classical music industry's current approaches to music by African American composers reflect Dvorak's attitudes -and why this question is not as simple as it seems. 17/
Oxford University Press has told me that registered attendees at the event will receive a 30% discount code available on pre-orders through the OUP website! That makes the paperback price a total steal. 18/
Come one, come all, it should be a fun conversation! And I hope you enjoy the book. I'll be writing more about the it in my newsletter in the coming weeks. 19/19 https://classicalalternative.substack.com/
