A Historical Example of Racist Views In Music-Making

Concepts of lips, lungs and music-making represent a long-standing tradition. This is from an article published 110 years ago in a Hamburg newspaper announcing an up coming concert:

“On Monday evening a 14 person Original-Negro-Band will give a concert in the Ratskeller... Even though these 14 persons from 10 different tribes have never enjoyed a music school, they still correctly read music, and not only of their homeland melodies, but also of a beautiful repertoire of European masters. This band is of special interest to musicians, who will find themselves asking: How is it possible, that these people with their thick, swollen lips, can form a good embouchure on wind instruments?”

[“Neger-Concert”, Harburger Anzeiger und Nachrichten ( November 6, 1886). As quoted in Fred K. Prieberg, Musik und Macht (Frankfurt am Main: Gustav Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, 1991): 109.]

We ironically note that these people with their “thick, swollen lips” became the most influential and celebrated wind players of the 20th century.