[oogabooha]

Sorry for reviving this topic, but I have a composer related question that falls under LGBT*Q...does anybody know of any composers in history who have undergone a sex change (or are transgender/genderqueer)? I hope I'm not saying this in a way that doesn't seem PC (if so, I'm sorry)

I also am not implying that it affects the way they compose or if that's the only thing they "stood for", it's just that I'm only familiar with one well-known composer and I want to see if the LGBT*Q presence in music is well rounded or not. I'm just curious

 

[Mahlerian]

Wendy Carlos is the only one who comes to mind (that was probably who you were thinking of).

 

[oogabooha]

Yes, Carlos was who came to mind, I was wondering if I was missing anyone.

 

[hreichgott]

I was going to say Wendy Carlos too.

 

[Crudblud]

Sorry for reviving this topic, but I have a composer related question that falls under LGBT*Q...does anybody know of any composers in history who have undergone a sex change (or are transgender/genderqueer)? I hope I'm not saying this in a way that doesn't seem PC (if so, I'm sorry)

I also am not implying that it affects the way they compose or if that's the only thing they "stood for", it's just that I'm only familiar with one well-known composer and I want to see if the LGBT*Q presence in music is well rounded or not. I'm just curious

I'm gender fluid, which might fit your criteria, but I don't think it has any particular effect on my music. Some people have called my music "schizophrenic," a term which is potentially analogous to fluidity, but my personality is not drastically altered (if at all) by shifts in gender so I think that rules it out as a direct influence. In a more general sense everything that I am must be a guiding force in some way, but on that level I am just as influenced by my liking of pizza as I am by my sometimes being a woman.

 

[oogabooha]

I'm gender fluid, which might fit your criteria, but I don't think it has any particular effect on my music. Some people have called my music "schizophrenic," a term which is potentially analogous to fluidity, but my personality is not drastically altered (if at all) by shifts in gender so I think that rules it out as a direct influence. In a more general sense everything that I am must be a guiding force in some way, but on that level I am just as influenced by my liking of pizza as I am by my sometimes being a woman.

That's interesting, thanks for the insight. It should be noted that I wasn't saying that I thought it affected a composer's music (in a way that could be interpreted as derogatory), but I was just thinking solely about representation among "famous composers" or whatever, because so commonly people are posed with the "rich white guy dilemma: where is the variety?" or some peculiar aesthetic based discussion

 

[Crudblud]

That's interesting, thanks for the insight. It should be noted that I wasn't saying that I thought it affected a composer's music (in a way that could be interpreted as derogatory), but I was just thinking solely about representation among "famous composers" or whatever, because so commonly people are posed with the "rich white guy dilemma: where is the variety?" or some peculiar aesthetic based discussion

Then I misinterpreted, although rest assured I didn't think there was anything derogatory about your post. In 100 years' time there may be many more well known trans/fluid/queer/whatever composers, most of them will be of our generation, there are probably many young composers of that persuasion that we aren't aware of who are going to be "important" in years to come.

 

[hello]

I disagree. Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell, & John Cage aren't exactly softies. Virgil Thompson's music is powerful and majestic. What a terrible stereotype.

 

[Novelette]

I disagree. Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell, & John Cage aren't exactly softies. Virgil Thompson's music is powerful and majestic. What a terrible stereotype.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

A terrible stereotype indeed!

 

[BurningDesire]

They're all so tiny. I'm even taller than Rachmaninov :3

 

[Moscow-Mahler]

I am reading Tchaikovsky biography now (though, despite me being gay, I am more into Shostakovich):

http://www.amazon.com/Piotr-Tchaikovsky-Biografia-Portugues-Brasil/dp/859881525X/

Quite frustrating reading. Escpecially, about his relationship with his wife. I still do not understand all this situation because in aristocratic XIX century Russian society no one cared much about homosexuality.

There was now closed discussion about our Minister of Culture (quite unpleasant person, the previous one, who was an ex-diplomat was much better), who claimed that Tchaikovksy was not gay. I was out of the forum, and so did not participate. Maybe it's better for me, ' cause I am afraid that being both gay AND Russian I would have become too emotional.

 

[GiulioCesare]

I am reading Tchaikovsky biography now (though, despite me being gay, I am more into Shostakovich):

http://www.amazon.com/Piotr-Tchaikovsky-Biografia-Portugues-Brasil/dp/859881525X/

Quite frustrating reading. Escpecially, about his relationship with his wife. I still do not understand all this situation because in aristocratic XIX century Russian society no one cared much about homosexuality.

There was now closed discussion about our Minister of Culture (quite unpleasant person, the previous one, who was an ex-diplomat was much better), who claimed that Tchaikovksy was not gay. I was out of the forum, and so did not participate. Maybe it's better for me, ' cause I am afraid that being both gay AND Russian I would have become too emotional.

You stay safe.

___________________

 

[mstar]

You stay safe.

___________________

Agreed. He should read a realistic one (pfft-hahahahahaaa! Yes, it exists...) by Alexander Poznansky.

But some threads float away for good reasons.

 

[BurningDesire]

I am reading Tchaikovsky biography now (though, despite me being gay, I am more into Shostakovich):

http://www.amazon.com/Piotr-Tchaikovsky-Biografia-Portugues-Brasil/dp/859881525X/

Quite frustrating reading. Escpecially, about his relationship with his wife. I still do not understand all this situation because in aristocratic XIX century Russian society no one cared much about homosexuality.

There was now closed discussion about our Minister of Culture (quite unpleasant person, the previous one, who was an ex-diplomat was much better), who claimed that Tchaikovksy was not gay. I was out of the forum, and so did not participate. Maybe it's better for me, ' cause I am afraid that being both gay AND Russian I would have become too emotional.

*hug* stay strong friend.

 

[spradlig]

How can a string quartet be gay? Not arguing, just don't understand.

 

[spradlig]

Sorry, I see you answered my question from a few minutes ago.

 

[nightscape]

There were many composers that were gay: Copland, Tchaikovsky, Copland, Bernstein, Barber, etc.

Copland was twice as gay!

 

[Orfeo]

@ Meaghan - that was a very enlightening article. I knew Bernstein's Mass drew ire from the Vatican, but I didn't know President Nixon also hated it. Reading that article, it was clear the Nixon was quite the homophobe. He was more concerned with what Bernstein did rather than his music (eg. kissing the performers, including the guys, after the show). Also anti-Semitism - Nixon noting the "Jewish name" of critic Harold C. Schonberg. It seems that Nixon was more of a complete douchebag than I had thought before. & re supporting the Black Panthers - Lenny went out on a limb there, imo, but I feel that maybe the man was just being a bit of a "stirrer," he deliberately wanted to discomfit the conservatives...

Nixon's relationship with Kissinger is revealing in that respect (of anti-semitism), as reported.

 

[Jobis]

I think the role of sexuality is often overplayed as a 'defining characteristic' of a person which is silly imo

 

[shangoyal]

I think the role of sexuality is often overplayed as a 'defining characteristic' of a person which is silly imo

It is also underplayed sometimes, which is more silly.