Dear MMDers,  Regarding the recent postings on the appropriateness of
using "vintage" lyrics with racially offensive lyrics and titles --

I believe that people continue to need to be VERY sensitive to the fact
that the terms in these songs can still be hurtful, regardless of the
correctness of the "history" involved in republishing them accurately.
Yes, it was once OK to say N_______, Coon, Darkie, etc., but to the
extent we "republish" these terms in recently-released versions of
older music, this has to be done with caution, circumspection and
sensitivity.  I do not like "knee-jerk" reactions, and I abhor much of
the "political correctness" agenda because so little thought goes into
it.

But that being said, I've spoken with too many folks in this hobby
who actually ARE racist -- and they cover for their racism by using
"historical accuracy" as a defense in collecting Minstrel Series Rolls,
etc.   And given that African Americans have made the most significant
contributions to the sorts of music must often found on piano rolls,
it really annoys me to discover that occasional latent racist.  Stated
another way, it's a poor payback to the people who have done so much
for music in Western culture, and its being done by folks who should
recognize better than most the debt owed.

I would like to shift gears for a moment, and respond specifically
to Doug Henderson's contribution from yesterday.  I have had the real
pleasure of speaking and corresponding with Doug on many occasions over
the years, and have never heard him utter anything which could be
deemed racist (i.e., Doug is not one of the folks I refer to above).
I also support Artcraft's disclaimer when it prints offensive lyrics --
but Doug, since you mentioned the "Klan" song in your article -- is
this particular music SO good that its re-release was justified?
(NOTE: Artcraft no longer has this roll in its catalog, according to
the Artcraft web page -- http://www.wiscasset.net/artcraft).

There must be thousands of songs available for arranging which do
not tread on controversial or offensive ground.  I mean, we're not
talking Richard Wagner quality here, are we?   Neither you nor I have
experience racial prejudice and violence of the sort practiced by the
Ku Klux Klan -- I'm not sure we're the best arbiters of whether it's
"OK" to promote music which glorifies or commemorates the Klan.  Also,
the promotional text which accompanied this selection in your catalog,
that the sentiments contained in the song "were a matter of personal
taste" always struck me as being a bit weak -- your excellent
disclaimer would have worked better.

As to Doug's comment that people at his concert in Boston didn't care
about whether the song title said "Colored" or "Negro",  Doug, neither
you or I (being white) are the best people to decide whether these
terms are still offensive.  Thus, I think the brief word of explanation
before your performance of the Cesena piece (giving the historical
context of the song title) was necessary and appropriate, and probably
assuaged some of the people present.  The short speech would have been
worth it if it helped a SINGLE person there appreciate the music,
rather than be angry, hurt and resentful.  And even assuming that no
offense was taken by anyone, what was the possible down side of being
cautious -- of being MORE sensitive than was necessary??!!

I confess that I also struggle with these issues -- and that it's
sometimes tough to be historically accurate and racially sensitive.
At the request of an Australian distributor, Meliora Music Rolls has
just completed an arrangement of a pre-rag folk song, "Whistling Rufus"
by Kerry Mills (circa 1899) -- it contains racially offensive material
- And I don't know whether I'll include a lyric sheet which contains
the offensive material, or sanitized lyrics created much later.

If this rambling has a point, it's that we should remain sensitive
to these issues when we "republish" songs and music with racially
offensive lyrics and titles.  Also, the material should be chosen
with care, and really hold up to an argument that it's musically and
historically relevant enough to be worth the potential downside of
offending and hurting.  Finally, I'd agree that, yes, sheet music
covers which depict blacks in an offensive manner are part of our
"history" -- but is it really the sort of history we should revel in
and perpetuate?

Tim Baxter / M.A. (History) Duke University, 1988 *
Atlanta, Georgia

* Degree information given not for snobbery's sake, but in response
to Doug's comment that people who are concerned with these issues need
to study some social history.  I have.