Lizzo and the magic flute.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Oct 3, 2022 13:51:52 GMT -5 resolution said:

I had no clue that the Library of Congress even had a musical instrument collection. Just a casual review of their site doesn't list anything like that. I wonder how people can get so worked up over something that they didn't know existed until it ended up in the news.

These are the people who get pissed Big Bird got a COVID shot because Sesame Street has "gone woke" according to them. 

So is it REALLY all that shocking that they are pissed a large black woman played a white male president's flute. . in public no less?  That honor should have gone to a white man.

[jerseygirl]

Saw the clip
Awesome that there is a crystal flute given to Madison!
Lizzo played the flute well but to me there was a dissonance between the image of an elegant crystal flute with the added historical story and the person playing
Don’t know much about Lizzo but knew she’s a singer and fat didn’t know she’s black. But her clothing really was surprising! If she had worn classic concert woman’s clothing this would to me fit with the elegance snd history of the crystal flute and probably wouldn’t have caused any commotion.
But she didn’t!! Obviously she wanted people to react to her, thinking not so much the flute
Anyway so nice to know that she is multitalented!

[daisylu]

Why does it always come back to what a woman is wearing? 

[saveinla]

She did not play it in a classical orchestra, so why would she dress up like that? She played in a jeans and top in the LOC and the next time she played it was at her concert - not with a symphony .

[dannylion]

Oct 3, 2022 14:28:29 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Saw the clip
Awesome that there is a crystal flute given to Madison!
Lizzo played the flute well but to me there was a dissonance between the image of an elegant crystal flute with the added historical story and the person playing
Don’t know much about Lizzo but knew she’s a singer and fat didn’t know she’s black. But her clothing really was surprising! If she had worn classic concert woman’s clothing this would to me fit with the elegance snd history of the crystal flute and probably wouldn’t have caused any commotion.
But she didn’t!! Obviously she wanted people to react to her, thinking not so much the flute
Anyway so nice to know that she is multitalented!

Madison's crystal flute is not a sacred object of deep religious significance.  It was actually more of a novelty status item, apparently.  Until Lizzo played it, it seems it had never been played, so there was no long history of its use in symphony or any other formal musical performance settings.  When she used it in her stage performance, of course she wanted to be noticed!  It wasn't about the flute.  It was about Lizzo playing the flute.  Because it was her performance.  She's allowed to do that when it's her performance.  If she had been anyone else, especially a white male, no one would have cared what she was wearing during her performance where people had paid to come and see her, not some random flute no one knew about until she played it.  

The important parts of her performance with the flute included the fact that she was able to play it well and that she did not drop it.  What she was wearing was irrelevant.  

[Tennesseer]

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Oct 3, 2022 14:40:54 GMT -5 saveinla said:

She did not play it in a classical orchestra, so why would she dress up like that? She played in a jeans and top in the LOC and the next time she played it was at her concert - not with a symphony .

That's what I was thinking.  Also it has been sitting in a drawer for the past 100+ years and nobody knew it even existed outside of the library until Lizzo played it. 

Nobody would have probably blinked an eye if it hadn't been advertised it was Madison's flute and everyone thought it was a random novelty instrument (which it was when given as a gift).

But since a president's name is attached to it now everyone and their mother thinks they have the right to critique everything about the performance.

The Congressional library didn't care what she wore to play it.  That's good enough for me.

[chiver78]

found it!

FTR, I'd be pretty useless with the old one. I played a modern Boehm flute for years. 

Attachments:

[TheOtherMe]

I saw that yesterday on FB.

I didn't know that it mattered what a woman wore to play the historical flute.  Would it matter what a white man wore to play it?

[nidena]

I think it's awesome that it was HER concert where it went truly public and she was wearing HER choice of concert attire and it was HER fans cheering her on.  Because the whole situation is quite a thumb in the nose of it all (or whatever the phrase would be).  James Madison, like his contemporaries, was a slave owner.

[billisonboard]

Oct 3, 2022 17:09:21 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I saw that yesterday on FB.

I didn't know that it mattered what a woman wore to play the historical flute.  Would it matter what a white man wore to play it?

Probably yes.

[daisylu]

She showed more respect in that situation than James Madison (a slave owner) deserved. But let's talk about what she was wearing.

Sorry, but as a female who developed early and spent DECADES trying to hide behind big clothing this strikes a nerve. I was over 40 when I embraced my body. All those big clothes did not disguise my large breasts they just hit the rest of my body - making me look like I was 300 pounds, which I'm not. And those clothes did nothing to prevent boys/men touching me inappropriately.
I have curves and now I embrace them. It took me a long time to get there. And I hope I've taught my daughter better. If you can't handle it that's on you.

And to hear the women carry on that trope is hurtful and angering.
And any man who thinks he can touch me now gets a rude awakening.

[laterbloomer]

This is one of those situations where all I've seen is people criticizing the people that supposedly criticized Lizzo. But thanks to that publicity I now know she played a classical flute, that she is a classically trained musician and that your government has a flute collection. The flute collection is what surprises me the most.

[Opti]

Oct 3, 2022 14:28:29 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Saw the clip
Awesome that there is a crystal flute given to Madison!
Lizzo played the flute well but to me there was a dissonance between the image of an elegant crystal flute with the added historical story and the person playing
Don’t know much about Lizzo but knew she’s a singer and fat didn’t know she’s black. But her clothing really was surprising! If she had worn classic concert woman’s clothing this would to me fit with the elegance snd history of the crystal flute and probably wouldn’t have caused any commotion.
But she didn’t!! Obviously she wanted people to react to her, thinking not so much the flute
Anyway so nice to know that she is multitalented!

It was a novelty flute given to Madison not a concert flute with a rich and storied history. As such, concert attire really is not needed IMO.

NJ as you may or may not know bought named string instruments for the NJ Symphony with money from Alexrod or he donated them. Those named instruments are far more important historically. This flute is a very interesting one off historical curiosity. Not sure I'd want to play a crystal flute even if I had the breath control to do so.

I think she played it well and handled it with respect. That's more important than what she wore IMO. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I give her props for being brave enough to play it. I would have been scared to breathe within 10 feet of it.

[nidena]

Oct 3, 2022 21:03:32 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I give her props for being brave enough to play it. I would have been scared to breathe within 10 feet of it.

Same!  Nevermind who owned it.  It's 200 years old!!

[chiver78]

this is a link to a public FB post on the LOC page. it is clips from Lizzo's tour of the flute vault.

fb.watch/fXWAX7G-E1/

[dannylion]

Oct 3, 2022 21:14:17 GMT -5 nidena said:

Oct 3, 2022 21:03:32 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I give her props for being brave enough to play it. I would have been scared to breathe within 10 feet of it.

Same!  Nevermind who owned it.  It's 200 years old!!

And made of glass!  

[Opti]

Oct 4, 2022 8:12:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

this is a link to a public FB post on the LOC page. it is clips from Lizzo's tour of the flute vault.

fb.watch/fXWAX7G-E1/

No wonder they wanted her to play it in public. The people who were there for that, especially the crystal flute, had a treat. 
Thanks for posting that, nice way to lift my morning.

[jerseygirl]

Oct 4, 2022 8:12:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

this is a link to a public FB post on the LOC page. it is clips from Lizzo's tour of the flute vault.

fb.watch/fXWAX7G-E1/

Just beautiful! So talented

[TheOtherMe]

Oct 3, 2022 20:13:27 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

This is one of those situations where all I've seen is people criticizing the people that supposedly criticized Lizzo. But thanks to that publicity I now know she played a classical flute, that she is a classically trained musician and that your government has a flute collection. The flute collection is what surprises me the most.

I didn't know the government had a flute collection either.

[Tennesseer]

Lizzo invited for an encore flute performance at James Madison's home

Some conservatives were outraged after Lizzo played James Madison's 200-year-old flute. But the people who manage his estate feel good as hell about it — and they want an encore.

A representative for the fourth U.S. president's Montpelier estate in Virginia tells TMZ and the Los Angeles Times that Lizzo has been invited to perform there and take a private tour.

The "About Damn Time" singer recently made headlines for playing a crystal flute from the 1800s, which was owned by James Madison, at a concert in Washington, D.C. She was invited to do so by the Library of Congress, which said "we were honored and happy to help her share that gift with her concert." Lizzo, a classically trained flute player, twerked on stage as she played the instrument.

"I just twerked and played James Madison's crystal flute from the 1800s!" she said, telling fans that "history is freaking cool."

But some conservatives objected, with Daily Wire host Matt Walsh accusing her of "desecrating American history," while conservative commentator Ben Shapiro argued that "twerking with pieces of American history" is "degrading and vulgarizing." Shapiro said he did not object to another clip of Lizzo playing the flute at the Library of Congress "while dressed somewhat decently."

Now, though, Madison's estate is inviting Lizzo to not only perform there, but play this same flute again.

"Montpelier has enthusiastically invited Lizzo to perform and share her unparalleled talent," a representative for the estate told the Los Angeles Times. "Recognizing how busy Lizzo's schedule is, both James Madison's Montpelier and the Montpelier Descendants Committee would be overjoyed to have the superstar bring her music to Montpelier, the home of President James Madison, the U.S. Constitution, and generations of enslaved Americans."

Lizzo invited for an encore flute performance at James Madison's home

[Opti]

Good for them. Historic homes open to the public need to run events that attract the public. I hope it is captured on video.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

"Montpelier has enthusiastically invited Lizzo to perform and share her unparalleled talent," a representative for the estate told the Los Angeles Times. "Recognizing how busy Lizzo's schedule is, both James Madison's Montpelier and the Montpelier Descendants Committee would be overjoyed to have the superstar bring her music to Montpelier, the home of President James Madison, the U.S. Constitution, and generations of enslaved Americans."

That's a giant middle finger to conservatives.  Good for the estate.

[Opti]

Oct 4, 2022 10:11:41 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

"Montpelier has enthusiastically invited Lizzo to perform and share her unparalleled talent," a representative for the estate told the Los Angeles Times. "Recognizing how busy Lizzo's schedule is, both James Madison's Montpelier and the Montpelier Descendants Committee would be overjoyed to have the superstar bring her music to Montpelier, the home of President James Madison, the U.S. Constitution, and generations of enslaved Americans."

That's a giant middle finger to conservatives.  Good for the estate.

I don't care what the conservatives think on this. Lizzo and the Library of Congress are bringing attention to the fact the US has a cool flute collection. Kudos to James Madison's Montpelier and the Montpelier Descendants Committee. Wish I was close enough to see it in person.

If you don't like the show, don't go or watch something else.

[NancysSummerSip]

Oct 3, 2022 14:04:10 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Oct 3, 2022 13:51:52 GMT -5 resolution said:

I had no clue that the Library of Congress even had a musical instrument collection. Just a casual review of their site doesn't list anything like that. I wonder how people can get so worked up over something that they didn't know existed until it ended up in the news.

The white conservatives who are whining the loudest about Lizzo playing Madison's flute would not have batted an eye if the musician invited to play the flute by the LOC had been white and male and an outspoken evangelical Christian with extra points for being a country music star.  

They're also really mad that she played it so well, so many of them are pretending she didn't by ridiculing her performance (which some of them likely didn't even see).  

i am now a huge Lizzo fan as I consider being able to play the flute to be evidence of magical powers.  I've always wanted to play the flute, but I have no talent.  And it makes me dizzy.  Also, she annoyed a bunch of Republicans and made them say stupider things than usual.  

Those same white far-righties would dance a joyful jig if Trump picked up that flute, stuck his manhood into one end and whistled "Dixie" out the other end. The sheer genius of Trump!

But an actual trained musician who happens to be black and not their ideal Barbie doll-sized feminine ideal ---- OMG. THE SACRILEGE OF IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Oct 7, 2022 18:23:11 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Oct 3, 2022 14:04:10 GMT -5 dannylion said:

The white conservatives who are whining the loudest about Lizzo playing Madison's flute would not have batted an eye if the musician invited to play the flute by the LOC had been white and male and an outspoken evangelical Christian with extra points for being a country music star.  

They're also really mad that she played it so well, so many of them are pretending she didn't by ridiculing her performance (which some of them likely didn't even see).  

i am now a huge Lizzo fan as I consider being able to play the flute to be evidence of magical powers.  I've always wanted to play the flute, but I have no talent.  And it makes me dizzy.  Also, she annoyed a bunch of Republicans and made them say stupider things than usual.  

Those same white far-righties would dance a joyful jig if Trump picked up that flute, stuck his manhood into one end and whistled "Dixie" out the other end. The sheer genius of Trump!

But an actual trained musician who happens to be black and not their ideal Barbie doll-sized feminine ideal ---- OMG. THE SACRILEGE OF IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMFG I pictured that and now I can't unsee it.😳

[Tennesseer]

Oct 7, 2022 18:23:11 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Oct 3, 2022 14:04:10 GMT -5 dannylion said:

The white conservatives who are whining the loudest about Lizzo playing Madison's flute would not have batted an eye if the musician invited to play the flute by the LOC had been white and male and an outspoken evangelical Christian with extra points for being a country music star.  

They're also really mad that she played it so well, so many of them are pretending she didn't by ridiculing her performance (which some of them likely didn't even see).  

i am now a huge Lizzo fan as I consider being able to play the flute to be evidence of magical powers.  I've always wanted to play the flute, but I have no talent.  And it makes me dizzy.  Also, she annoyed a bunch of Republicans and made them say stupider things than usual.  

Those same white far-righties would dance a joyful jig if Trump picked up that flute, stuck his manhood into one end and whistled "Dixie" out the other end. The sheer genius of Trump!

But an actual trained musician who happens to be black and not their ideal Barbie doll-sized feminine ideal ---- OMG. THE SACRILEGE OF IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're giving trump's manhood too much credit for its length to do all that with a flute when we were told on good authority it was the size of a small toadstool.

[justme]

Oct 3, 2022 10:18:15 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Oct 3, 2022 10:00:21 GMT -5 Opti said:

I think they lost it way before that. The American Taliban keeps thinking they are better than the Taliban because they don't require head scarves, just being subordinate to any zygote that might occur. 

A nun's habit covers everything except the face. Non clergy women are still required to cover hair in the Vatican. I can't figure out how to post an internet image from my Mac, but Melania & Ivanka had to cover their hair when they visited. Granted this is the Catholic tradition and not other Christian tradition.

Must not be in the public areas. I only needed my shoulders knees and toes covered. (Yes I would sing the song several time since almost all churches in Italy had those rules and it cracked me up) And I actually only saw the signs outside the sistine chapel - I don't recall seeing it in the museum or gardens.

Which btw if you ever go make sure you do the gardens tour. 1000% better than the crowded museums. They were so uncomfortably crowded it was insane, and that's before you considered how much money the Vatican is making off of having people come in and see all the artifacts they stole or razed.

[NancysSummerSip]

Oct 7, 2022 19:32:43 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Oct 7, 2022 18:23:11 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Those same white far-righties would dance a joyful jig if Trump picked up that flute, stuck his manhood into one end and whistled "Dixie" out the other end. The sheer genius of Trump!

But an actual trained musician who happens to be black and not their ideal Barbie doll-sized feminine ideal ---- OMG. THE SACRILEGE OF IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMFG I pictured that and now I can't unsee it.😳

Right?
He could almost use it as a golf club...OK, still about a foot and a half short, but whatever.