Female composers

Female composers... there seems to always be a very uneven ratio of Men to Women if you look at composers today. (History is a different story.)

I am curious who you know as far as female composers (don't name yourself if you are female), :wacko: and why do you think so little women become composers in comparison to males?

I'm just interested in what people think about the matter...

I swear there are two or three other threads on this already.

Here's one.

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/female-composers-musicians-14831.html

That'd help explain why you are the only one who posted :-\

I'll just let this die I guess...

I agree there is a lack of musical masterpieces by women, but there is also much more bad music written by men. The point is since much more music was written by men, you’ll have more of it that is better too. I believe there is no gene that makes men more capable of composing masterpieces than women, but it is more a matter of historical precedence and slowly changing tradition. You could argue there are fewer great women film directors, painters, sculptors, physicists, entrepreneurs, too, but the workforce equality is relatively a new thing. Traditionally, women were expected by their societies to put their energy and focus into family and this is how they were raised. Often, society expectations and men would expect women to give up potential careers for their family. Even the great Mahler forbid his wife Alma from composing. I don't believe he was a sexist pig, but was part of a society that felt this was not an appropriate career for a wife...from his letter to Alma while they were engaged: "I'm in the strange position of having, in a sense, to set my music against yours....would it be possible for you to regard my music as yours from now on?...You, however have only one profession from now on: to make me happy!" I think it is important to note he was not an evil, mean spirited husband, but was clearly in love with her if you keep reading the letter. He is just a product of his time and society. I have heard some of her music because it is available on cds. It isn't bad, but it isn't great - but who knows, perhaps if she kept writing she would have gotten better and better.

Note, in the nineteenth century, women could be viewed as property with no rights. Fewer women decide to become composers because historically women weren't allowed to compose or even participate in the man's world of music making. Remember, music is a traditional field slow to change.

Here are some examples of how slow music as a collective industry is to change: I'm sure you heard as recently as 2005, when the wonderful conductor and powerful communicator Marin Alsop was appointed head of the Baltimore Symphony, 1/2 the orchestra issued a statement condemning the 'premature conclusion of the search process' and going so far as to threaten to walk out. I am not positive about this, but I believe not until very recently did the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra allow women performers**. In my composition classes, 5% were women. Maybe in a few more years, it will double, but it is a slowly evolving process.

Notable modern women composers:

* Kaija Sarriaho

* Jennifer Higdon

* Lera Auerbach

* Gloria Coates

* Elisabetta Brusa has some interesting stuff

* Alex Shapiro

* Augusta Read Thomas

** Edit: Ok, I just looked it up, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra which originated in 1842 did not allow women until 1997 and no woman conducted it till 2005.

I believe there is no gene that makes men more capable of composing masterpieces than women

Maybe there is one though, or some other biological reason that makes men more able to compose than women. It's hardly sexist to suggest that such a thing might be true. It's long been known that woman are better at multi-tasking. Well maybe men are better at composing. Big deal.

Even the great Mahler forbid his wife Alma from composing.

Forbade.

Isn't it arguable that the societal and cultural pressures could structure our brains differently rather than them being inherently different?

Of course, that's arguable too. Not only arguable, it's a big part of why there haven't been many female composers...but you can also argue my idea. (I don't think there *is* a gene or whatever, but I think there *could* be, and ruling it out is silly.)

Galina Ustvolskaya and Sofia Gubaidulina are two of my favourite composers (especially the former!). Sadly the composer whose music (at least currently) I dislike most (sometimes bordering to furious hatred!) also happens to be a (rather famous) woman. I won't name her name though, so this doesn't become a flaming thread ;)

Oh, and I really like Kaija Saariaho's music. I'm still very unsure about Olga Neuwirth's music, but she's certainly a prominent composer. Augusta Read Thomas composes very "aesthetic" music and it sounds very "musical", but it never really did much for me, personally. Gloria Coates rocks! I love it.

Oh, and I LOVE Adriana H

Thanks Gardener! I was hoping people would make posts like yours, just tossing out opportunities to hear new music. :)

The other ideal post is full of debate and fury. :P

i guess the most obvious reason for the lack of female composers in THE PAST, is the problem with unequal rights between genders. But now, even if the genders DO have equal rights, some ideas are still stuck in people's heads. the ideas of "housewife" and "a good mother" is still blocking the way a little bit.

i guess it does have something to do with your genes, but it doesnt really make you BETTER or WORSE. it just kinda makes you different.