Evolution exists

I write this post in support of evolution, with regards to the arts.

The Vienna Phil is performing for the next few weeks in San Francisco. Their presence is causing quite a stir, both artistically and socially. The artistic excitement is obvious, it's one of the world's greatest orchestras. The social is a bit more elusive. Historically, the Vienna Phil is known for it's exclusion, as the orchestra is made of up mostly white men. Only recently did the orchestra begin accepting women into the roster and i think there are only about 4 or 5 current female members. The orchestra seems to pride itself on their lack of diversity, claiming that it is what helps to create their signature sound and performance style. So is it ok to justify social errors in the name of art?

Here's where evolution plays in: Survival of the fittest. It's no secret that classical music is dying. It's merely a fact that many classical players ignore. The attitude of this orchestra epitomizes this ignorance. Much of the greatest music was written in response to the human experience, so why do many classical artists seem to ignore that today? We seem so caught up in preserving the past, which seems to be the goal of the Vienna Phil, that we forget to create art for the future.

While the social errors of the orchestra are of great concern, what concerns me more is that this leading force in classical music is too caught up in antiquated tradition to have the energy to further a sustainable future for the art. Don't think that I am in any way demoralizing the performance abilities of the Phil. They are truly one of the greatest orchestras in the world. And I want them to continue to hire the greatest players, but the greatest players aren't always white men. True art comes from the highest level of expression and collaboration, exclusion based on race or gender has no place in making art.