Music 301/501

Women in Music

Women Orchestral Performers in the United States, 1870 - 1900

·        1870-1945 sees dramatic rise in women employed as orchestral musicians, although still a small percentage at end of this period

·        Instruments:

·        Women were traditionally restricted to “feminine” instruments: must not contort face, no extreme, unladylike body movements

·        By 1900 violin was acceptable for women

·        Women started forming all-women orchestras in 1870’s

·        US tour of Vienna Damen Orchester in 1871

·        First women orchestras in New York were mostly German-Americans

·        All-women identity was a novelty

·        Repertoire was mostly light-classical to popular

·        Mostly still conducted by men, except Boston Fadette Orchestra, led by Caroline Nichols

·        All-women orchestras not considered a “problem” until they threatened to compete economically

·        Musician’s Union excluded women from playing in union-controlled orchestras until 1904, when Union joined American Fed of Labor

Women in Orchestras 1925 – 1945

·        Although women were majority of music students in 1925, still barred from professional positions except opera singers, choral work, concert soloist

·        Most women found in professional orchestras before 1925 were harpists

·        Changes in 1920’s:

·        Training orchestras established in New York, Chicago to open paths to major orchestras.  American men and a few women got in (violin, harp), but women’s symphonies offered more opportunities

·        Women’s Symphony Orchestra of Chicago

·        Started in 1925 with 45 players (some amateur); by late 30’s had 90 pros

·        Had to depend on a few male players when females scarce

·        Orchestra also made a point of playing American music, esp. by women

·        After 2 years, hired a woman conductor: Ethel Leginska

·        American debut was with New York Symphony 1925

·        She was a novelty but reviews admitted her ability as conductor

·        After 1925 she occasionally conducted major (male) orchestras but mostly women’s

·        Led the Boston Women’s Symphony Orchestra on tours of eastern US in 1928, 1929: big visibility for women players

·        Secondary level orchestras grew: 55 new 1920-1930; some women admitted; the 13 majors in those days still barred women except harpists