No Broken Links

 
 

About

The No Broken Links Directory highlights solo and chamber music that includes flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, and/or horn (in any instrumental combination) by composers from communities who continue to face marginalization in the field of classical music and new music due to the institutionalization and codification of music education and canonization through Western ideals such as white supremacy, ableism, colonization, and male dominance, to name a few.

Over the years, we have learned that highlighting individuals based on a handful of specific identities doesn’t quite achieve this mission and that database resources such as ours may cause further harm if misused or misunderstood. In doing so, we have realized that our enthusiasm for learning a composer’s story is what truly motivates us. In this spirit, we hope to inspire No Broken Links users to make discovery and research a regular part of their practice, and we encourage you to reach out to us with feedback or questions.

— Brandon Rumsey (they/them) and Thomas Kurtz (he/him), Editors

 

Testimonials

“As a professor of applied bassoon, I require in my syllabi that students research, study, and perform solo works by artists who have traditionally been brushed aside by the tendencies toward white supremacy in our field. My task as a teacher is to set students up to succeed in this task; I try to balance providing them with help and pushing them to do the work on their own. The bassoon directory at No Broken Links continues to be the resource I use to strike this balance.”

– Midori Samson, Bassoon Professor at UW-Stevens Point

 

“I see these resources as enlightening in terms of how much our teaching and programming is based on the familiar and the well known and well worn. I hope that those who are in a position to pass on the canon of pedagogical and solo works will not ‘pass’ on exploring this list, but I know that there are few people of my generation who value this kind of exploration. That said, we who do value resources like this can slowly change the attitudes of those we teach. Each new generation has an opportunity to build on the last so there is hope.”

– Jeffrey Lyman, Bassoon Professor at University of Michigan

 

“I am grateful to ‘No Broken Links’ for bringing to light many treasures that might have gone the way of works by historically marginalized composers, and become ignored or forgotten. This resource provides a means for performers and teachers to enjoy access to a rich body of solo and chamber music repertoire that traditionally has been squeezed out of the classical ‘canon’. I have found numerous gems in this database to use in my own recitals, teaching, and admissions auditions. Celebrating and normalizing works by underrepresented composers is an important step in redefining what ‘standard’ repertoire is, and contributes greatly to making the world of art music a more inviting and inclusive environment for all.”

– Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Bassoon Professor at The University of Texas at Austin

Take Action

  • Submit works you know with as much information as possible and share your sources.

  • Select works to program, research, and teach in your classes.

  • Share these directories with teachers, colleagues, and students so they can continue to grow, and we can link to all information as it becomes available.

  • Resist tokenism by committing to deep research and understanding around identity.

  • Please provide feedback on this resource, including suggesting articles for us to read & share.

  • Let us know if you would like to be removed from our lists or would like to update your information.