From Convent to Concert Hall: A Guide to Women Composers

by Martha F. Schleifer

Overview

In the world of musical composition, men have long overshadowed women. But as the prominence of women composers increases, so does interest in their lives and works. This is the first substantive biographical reference book geared toward the student or non-specialist, featuring information on nearly 200 women composers of the Western music tradition from the 9th century to the 2st. Composers were chosen based on the excellence of their music, their importance in the period's daily musical life, and the availability of information on their lives, music, and recordings. Taken together, they represent a broad range of styles, countries, and eras. This book is a valuable resource for students from high school through university, and for anyone interested in musical history and composers.

The book is arranged by style of music and chronology. Each profiled composer placed is related to the famous male composers, arts, sciences, and politics of her period. Profiles include biographical information and focus on the composer's work and association with other musicians. Also included for each composer are a discography of her recorded works (including a list of those available in modern editions) and a bibliography of additional print and electronic resources. Timelines place the women in historical context and appendixes organize them by country, century, and type of music. A syllabus of study is provided.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781573564113
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/30/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

SYLVIA GLICKMAN is a composer, pianist, and the founding President of the Hildegard Publishing Company, devoted to research and performance of the music of women composers.

MARTHA FURMAN SCHLEIFER is a member of the music history faculty at Temple University and is Senior Editor at the Hildegard Publishing Company.

Table of Contents

Introduction by Sylvia Glickman
The Middle Ages and the Renaissance by Martha Furman Schleifer
The 17th Century by Barbara Garvey Jackson
The 18th Century by Valerie Goertzen
The 19th Century by E. Douglas Bomberger
The 20th Century by Adeline Mueller
Appendix A: A Chronological List of Women Composers
Appendix B: A Geographical List of Women Composers
Appendix C: Suggested Syllabi for Courses on Women Composers or Women and Music
Glossary
General Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

This unique historical survey profiles for the lay reader more than 150 women composers from the ninth century to the present in their historical and cultural milieus. Musicians themselves and coeditors of the seven-volume Women Composers: Music Through the Ages, Glickman and Schleifer selected those who demonstrated musical excellence and influence in the day-to-day life of their era (qualities that were deduced from available research). While there is some overlap with Women Composers, the scope and purpose of this book is different, and 40 percent of the scholarship is completely new. The likes of the nun Kassia (810-67), Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), and Francesca Caccini (1587-1645) made the cut, as did less obvious personalities like Anne Boleyn (1507-36) and Sofia Gubaidulina (b. 1931)-as complete a list as one could imagine. Written by women musicians, each of the five chapters corresponds with a time period and includes a historical narrative; a chronological chart of political, scientific, and artistic milestones; and a bibliography, discography, and list of modern editions for each composer discussed. Unfortunately, the project's scope does not allow for more than a cursory summary of general history and the individual composers, resulting in prose that ranges from pedantic to dull. Nonetheless, we should be grateful to the writers for gathering all this information in a single volume, providing an excellent point of departure. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Timothy J. McGee, Hastings, Ont. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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