Women Composers' Thread/International Women's Day 2015 on R3

[MrGongGong]

So what’s so special about the music by women composers?

I think you miss the point
There is much music that has been overlooked because of the gender of the composer
which isn't to say that there isn't lots of music by men that isn't played as much as one might hope
BUT highlighting music by women composers gives a message to many young women composers that it IS a valid activity.

This is worth reading IMV

http://www.sinfinimusic.com/uk/features/other-features/women-composers-the-gender-gap

[french frank]

BUT highlighting music by women composers gives a message to many young women composers that it IS a valid activity.

I don't disagree with that - but it's also a backhander at Radio 3, since they're as guilty as any at ignoring women composers. If they discover some new names and start programming them, the Day will have served a purpose.

[doversoul1]

CotW will apparently be Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre ... (excuse my removal of the accent on the initial E - I'm not keen on accents on upper case. Not that it's wrong).

FYI

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/advsearch.php?composer=Elisabeth+Jacquet+de+La+Guerre+&work=&performer=&medium=all&label=&cat=

Composer of the Week had an excellent programme on Cécile Chaminade and Augusta Holmès without any aid/excuse. What’s wrong with doing this more often?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00c1xxv

Mr GG

There is much music that has been overlooked because of the gender of the composer
which isn't to say that there isn't lots of music by men that isn't played as much as one might hope
BUT highlighting music by women composers gives a message to many young women composers that it IS a valid activity.

I stressed ‘historically and generally’. I have no intention of getting into the usual argument about gender etc.of our modern society.

ff

If they discover some new names and start programming them, the Day will have served a purpose.

Yes, IF…. Do you remember this ever happening in the past? Still let’s hope that the new controller may be able to make something of it.

[MrGongGong]

So what’s so special about the music by women? ..

What an odd question

International Women's Day is a significant event so it would seem an obvious one to use to reflect on women composers.
Seems rather obvious to me and if it means that the BBC is a bit more open to playing previously unknown music (by men, women or rabbits) then it would seem IMV to be a good thing.

[Flosshilde]

Still, if there's an International Women's Day to showcase their talents as compensation, they can be forgotten again for the rest of the year? Except, I don't think that's quite what you're recommending ...

Oh, absolutely not. I was going to add, but didn't, that the problem with highlighting them on a particular day is that people (mostly men) can say 'well, their music has been played on IWD so what are you complaining about?'. Still, if it's a choice (& it shouldn't be) between being played on a particular day, and not being played at all ... And if the music is played, & brought to people's notice, on IWD it might make people think that it is as good as, if not better, than the music by men that's normally played and programme, or listen to, it more often.

[Flosshilde]

FYI

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/advsearch.php?composer=Elisabeth+Jacquet+de+La+Guerre+&work=&performer=&medium=all&label=&cat=

Composer of the Week had an excellent programme on Cécile Chaminade and Augusta Holmès without any aid/excuse. What’s wrong with doing this more often?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00c1xxv

Nothing at all. Except that it isn't.

So what’s so special about the music by women?

Nothing, probably. Except that we don't hear enough of it so we can't tell.

[P. G. Tipps]

What an odd question

International Women's Day is a significant event ...

And this as well ... ?

http://www.internationalmensday.com/

[Don Petter]

And this as well ... ?

http://www.internationalmensday.com/

Who does decide these things?

Are there any free days left - I'd suggest an International Cheese Sandwich Day.

[MickyD]

I have the three Hyperion discs of piano music by Cécile Chaminade and play them so often...wonderful miniatures, beautifully constructed.

[Flosshilde]

Quote Originally Posted by P. G. Tipps View Post
And this as well ... ?

http://www.internationalmensday.com/

Who does decide these things?

Are there any free days left - I'd suggest an International Cheese Sandwich Day.

" in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March.
(http://www.internationalwomensday.co...p#.VMtJZcnpyzk)

So it's not exactly a new idea, & one would think that by the 21st century people would no longer feel the need to make comments like the ones above, especially in supposedly advanced cultures like the UK.

[jean]

Well said.

[Don Petter]

So it's not exactly a new idea, & one would think that by the 21st century people would no longer feel the need to make comments like the ones above, especially in supposedly advanced cultures like the UK.

I accept that this example is well-established and highly commendable. It is the proliferation of 'Days' for anything and everything

Hug Day
Pi (the constant) Day
Thinking Day
Sparrow Day
World Book and Copyright Day
Star Wars Day
International Civil Aviation Day
Towel Day
Miltary Spouse Appreciation Day
Pi Approximation Day (not the same as above)
International Lefthanders Day
World Television Day
International Coffee Day
World Standards Day
Mole Day (chemistry, not burrowing)
National Cat Day
World Soil Day
International Mountain Day

which must surely dilute the effectiveness of the worthy ones?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It is the proliferation of 'Days' for anything and everything ... which must surely dilute the effectiveness of the worthy ones?

Not really, DonP - International Women's Day is generally marked, whereas the others (lovely list - most of which I'd never heard of) are mostly ignored. "Thinking Day" perhaps especially?



Is "Sparrow Day" anything like Robin Day?

[JFLL]

This sounds fascinating:

1500-1600: Choral Evensong - a bespoke concert from King's College, Cambridge

I wonder exactly how they will 'bespeak' it?

[jean]

1500-1600: Choral Evensong - a bespoke concert from King's College, Cambridge

That's from the second link in the OP, I think - 'bespoke' having its usual meaning of 'made to order'.

The first link is clearer:

A service from King’s College Cambridge with music composed by female composers.

But why KCC? Wouldn't a choir with girl trebles have been more fitting?