Music 301/501

Women in Music

Many Possible Approaches to the Topic

·        Straight historical

·        Functional: composer, performer, teachers, etc.

·        Gender issues in music itself

·        Need to re-define analytical methods

·        Feminist music/lesbian music ("women's music")

·        Ladies' amateur and club music

·        How women are portrayed in music

There have always been women composers, but in general they aren’t well known. Women aren't often mentioned in history texts

·        Traditional historical questions exclude women

·        Investigation emphasizes cutting edge developments; women were rarely involved because they were excluded from training. 

·        According to tradition, composers usually started as performers, then composed; but there were prohibitions on performance by women:

·        Unladylike, esp. to play instrument that contorts the face

·        Damage to “reputation,” esp. to singers on stage

·        Exceptions: Italian convents and conservatories, esp. in Baroque Venice

Generalities:

·        Until this century, women were rarely composers unless

·        born to nobility/royalty           or

·        born into musical family        or

·        religious (nuns)

·        Until this century, women usually composed only "smaller works:" songs, piano pieces, chamber music.  Symphonies and operas were rare