The second topic had to do with censorship and ranged from Nazi bans on music by Jewish composers through Tipper Gore's attacks on lyrics in rock. Finally, they touched on music that may have inspired murders and suicides. One of the more interesting things they talked about in that section had to do with the threat of execution for mistakes in music which was reported for both Indian ragas and certain South Pacific music. However, this is always reported as something that used to happen but has been replaced by symbolic punishments. (Here in the West, of course, we merely have critics killing careers.)
There were also stories about musicians (and composers) who are alleged to have sold their souls to the devil. Apparently, the claim that Tartini has a dream in which the devil appeared to him and inspired the "Devil's Trill Sonata" is an urban legend. But Robert Johnson really did sell his soul to the devil at a crossroads. (Okay, they didn't actually say that.)
All in all, it was another interesting lecture in a series I am enjoying immensely.
