Scholarly Commons

Music and Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Treatment of Provocative Musical Works by Collegiate Ensembles

An arising problem in post-secondary music education is defining where the academic freedom of a professor ends and students’ rights to make their own decisions begin regarding ensemble performances. This research outlines potential problems that may ignite this question including when a student has an objection to a composer whose personal or political beliefs or actions may be considered questionable, an objection to a piece that may have extra-musical political implications, an objection to a piece that may constitute cultural appropriation, and/or an objection to a piece that may be proselytizing. Analytical tools are presented so that when this may happen, professors and students have several resources to assist in making ethical decisions. Specific musical works, including Bach’s St. John Passion, will be discussed in the context of ethical controversy.