When I think of western classical music, I immediately come up with many pieces composed by male composers. In earlier periods of western classical music history, music was basically for the church or royalty and nobility.  This phenomenon reflects the fact that most of the people in authority or wealth at that time were men.  An ancient culture that I am more familiar with is the Chinese culture, which has similar feudalism that women are inferior to men, or women need to be dependent on men through marriage, etc. in order to gain higher status and the respect they deserve. A really famous Chinese ancient idiom is “a woman is virtuous without talent”. There is another quote from American history that “slaves were only injured by being educated”. Even music, a spiritual, relaxing form of entertainment, can reflect the discrimination against women in ancient times, showing that women’s status was not valued in all respects.

 

The music I would perform is “Sun Will Set”, a piece that uses a sampler to play multiple parts simultaneously with a single instrument. As I mentioned above, we usually ignore many contributions from female composers. However, somehow females bring us a new view of music. The piece composed by Zoe Keating uses both the cello, a classical instrument, and modern techniques. This is a piece of learning from the past and expressing in the present. When listening to this music, you feel the texture of the cello, and the harmony that forms through the overlay of each track is very soothing. This music written by a female composer expresses the peace and inclusiveness of age with not a few dynamics, which I think it’s rare to see in male composers’ pieces.

 

I think what is valuable about Nietzsche’s quote here is to motivate people to put effort step by step on their own. Knowing the past well does not mean performing well. However, when you start to make your own progress after learning from the past, you will reach your goal easier in a unique way. To explore the past, to like other’s contributions, and to understand the process is way more important than the result (the music we hear, the artwork we see, intuitively). For example, when you learn a new piece, you don’t play the piece perfectly right after you hear others’ interpretations. You practice and explore the technique, then you could refine the piece, maybe in your own style.