On Music Theory, and Making Music More Welcoming for Everyone

by Philip Ewell

Since its inception in the mid-twentieth century, American music theory has been framed and taught almost exclusively by white men. As a result, whiteness and maleness are woven into the fabric of the field, and BIPOC music theorists face enormous hurdles due to their racial identities. In On Music Theory , Philip Ewell brings together autobiography, music theory and history, and theory and history of race in the United States to offer a black perspective on the state of music theory and to confront the field’s white supremacist roots. Over the course of the book, Ewell undertakes a textbook analysis to unpack the mythologies of whiteness and western-ness with respect to music theory, and gives, for the first time, his perspective on the controversy surrounding the publication of volume 12 of the Journal of Schenkerian Studies . He speaks directly about the antiblackness of music theory and the antisemitism of classical music writ large and concludes by offering suggestions about how we move forward. Taking an explicitly antiracist approach to music theory, with this book Ewell begins to create a space in which those who have been marginalized in music theory can thrive.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

332 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2023

Reviews

[Mike Zavorskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive but still a ton of stuff to think about.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was precipitated by the storm that ensued after Ewell gave a presentation at the 2019 Society for Music Theory conference that addressed music theory's white racial frame and touched on Heinrich Schenker's racism. The Journal of Schenkerian Studies responded the following year with a very controversial and problematic issue responding to Ewell's talk. On Music Theory elaborates and enlarges on Ewell's talk and subsequent article, addresses the journal issue, and provides some recommendations for solving the problems he illuminates.
On Music Theory is an excellent, timely, and necessary book. Ewell is one of the best scholarly writers about music I've encountered. The way he lays out and progresses through his arguments is elegant, persuasive, and satisfying. I especially loved the more open, expansive, and inclusive vision for the study of music that he promotes. I want that. I will keep finding ways that I can help make it happen through my role as a music librarian.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I read this book; it fostered some really great conversations in my book clubs. Ewell has put so much into this book, personally and professionally, and I hope it brings clarity to the needed change in the field. I’ll admit I didn’t love the colloquialisms and found them distracting to the main points of the text, though I appreciate Ewell’s approachability. I also wish there could have been more specificity at times; I found that there were many sweeping statements (that I mostly agreed with but just wanted more.) I’m excited to keep delving into these ideas using the wide range of sources in his bibliography.

[Aaron D'Zurilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important and impactful reads for the field of academic, particularly music-theoretical, research. This work should be, at the very least, implemented into graduate reading/survey courses, if not a centerpiece of such. As a cisgender white man who is also a rap/hip-hop scholar, I was deeply moved and engaged by Ewell's writings and recommendations. This is certainly a book that I plan on revisiting continually along my academic and career journey, as "making music more welcome for everyone" will forever be relevant.