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Too Bohemian for Wasilla?

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Political commentator Joe McGinniss:

The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reports today that the principal of Wasilla High School told members of the school’s symphonic jazz choir that they would not be allowed to perform the 1975 Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” because Freddy Mercury, who wrote it, was gay.

In the face of student protests, and fearing ACLU involvement, the principal backed down–to a point.

They’re still going to cut the “just killed a man” lyric, a cut which has happened at many a school. 

Wasilla is, of course, the hometown of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Alaska blogger Phil Munger points out that a ban on gay composers would cut their repertoire substantially, removing Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Cole Porter, Billy Strayhorn, Tchaikovsky, and more.

 

Pictured: Freddie Mercury


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Comments

  1. On a marginally-related note (sexuality of the creators of popular music), I often have the urge to snicker at the ubiquity of the song “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People at ballgames, dances, and elementary-school events despite the very obvious double entendre. I’m convinced that the vast majority of people participating in the traditional choreography, or those responsible for programming the song for such occasions, might not realize the significance, and if they did, some of them might have second thoughts about the song. 😉
     
    David T

  3. Dear Paul,
     
    I appreciate your standing for the teen’s intelligence. The text can be easily understood, but it is the emotional downer that I seem to sense in the opus. I guess it’s mild compared to some stuff i’ve  seen. Even when I was growing up there were some who lived in a sort of darkness. Just feel bad for that emotional world.
     
    Ed Palmer
     
     

  4. Dear Edward,
     
    Plese do not ever underestimate the intelligence of any high school age human being. Do not do them this disservice.
     
    Paul Carey

  6. Well put, gentlemen,
     
    Thanks, Allen, for mentioning that the principal was nowhere directly quoted; I had checked the Mat-Su Frontiersman and found that to be true. So far as we know, his decision may have had nothing to do with the preferences of Mr. Mercury. I will say that if my daughter had brought home such a text as this, I would have grave concerns. Pretty deep for highschoolers, I think! I do find the music itself of interest.
     
    I sense a tendency on the part of some to forget that they are not the final arbiter in a church situation or school when it comes to acceptability of material used. Which does not mean that we must run with every little detail to the boss for approval. Another director was questioned for scheduling as an anthem, (which it is not) a Spiritual:  I gotta home inna dat Rock!  Closer contact might have won approval for the song. I suppose the minister was concerned some might be embarassed by the use of heavy dialect.
     
    “Guidance by political considerations” is a door that swings both ways, but why not let high school kids grow up with a little innocence and not drag them into controversies they don’t understand, yet? There is so much beautiful music out there crying to be heard!
     
    One more thing.. The above paragraph in blue is by a Joe McGinniss. The same Joe McGinnis who stalked the Todd Palin family from next door, for five months?
    Now, there is an example of “Guidance by political considerations,” I think!
     
    Think Bach for a moment!
     
    Ed Palmer
     
     

  7. ChoralNet was, and is, meant to be a communications medium among choral conductors. I posted this because it seemed to me to represent a common type of conflict between teachers and administrators regarding music choices; although principals do have authority over teachers, their directives on music (and other) curricula are sometimes guided by political considerations or personal preference, seemingly the case here (although the principal was not directly quoted in the original article). I encourage discussion on this point, particular on the part of those who disagree with me.
     
    Of course, this particular conflict only made the news media because of the celebrity of the town’s former mayor.

  8. EP,
     
    I think Allen’s point (correct me if I’m wrong, Allen) was to point out the rather startling choral music-related opinion of a school leader. Apparently, this principal’s decision had nothing to do with the quality of the music, but rather the sexuality of its composer. And it was THE PRINCIPAL who said, ‘I don’t like it because its composer was gay’! As far as his judgment is concerned, it was obviously ill-informed and prejudiced … and I’m glad that he backed down, for whatever reason. I’m also glad that the “mob” rose up and pressured him to change his ruling.
     
    RE your question about “what ChoralNet was meant to be,” I defer to Allen.
     
    All my best,
     
    Tom
     

  9. The music of Samuel Barber and the others mentioned is successful because it is good, not because they were gay. Is the music of Freddie Mercury now going to be pushed by the ACLU   because he is gay or because some do not think it is good music? A song by a known to be gay composer, using the word Queen in it’s title and containing the phrase “just killed a man” might seem to some that it is “in your face with this.” Of course, much is accepted as art rhese days because it is put in a classification of some sort.
     
    Curious that Sarah Palin’s name is brought into this mix! Does not everyone know her home town? Does that reminder besmirch one or the other side of this little piece of what is  nonsense,    in my opinion? The arousal of political bents alienates about half of opinion holders.
     
    What is a principal of a school hired to do, if not to use his judgement in matters not spelled out in laws or rules. Otherwise, mob rule is the governance, is it not? Some do things because they can get away with it or cry “You don’t like me because I’m…………!
     
    Is this what ChoralNet is meant to be?
     
    EP
     

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