Gender has replaced merit as the measure of marketability
When music becomes the property of the social media junkies it becomes devalued. Because what counts on social networks is not merit, it is how loud the message is shouted. Nowhere is this illustrated more vividly (sadly?) than in the case of female musicians. Of course gender equality must be rectified. But be careful what you wish for, it might just come true. Today social media noise means gender has replaced merit as the defining measure of marketability. Which means a number of justly neglected 'masterpieces' are no longer neglected, while fine music by deserving composers will remain overlooked until the science of retrospective gender change is perfected. So a heads up for the meritorious French-Canadian composer Claude Vivier who has featured here in the past. And a second heads up for the perceptive Brilliant Classics label which in January is releasing a budget priced disc of his chamber music.
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