Why are there so few women composers of classical music?

Similar questions: women composers classical music.

I think you are overestimating the women's movement. While women are perhaps somewhat more free to make their own decisions, live their dreams in some countries, the wheels spin slowly in others. And within communities, the wheels spin slower.

You might ask: why are there so few black hockey players? You might ask: why are there so few male child care providers? Convention forces us into our roles in many ways.

Women have been somewhat accepted in popular music, but, except as instrumentalists, not in the classical realms. Few conductors accept women assistant conductors and those that do are ostracized within their peer group. Few pieces by the women who DO write for the symphony and chamber are performed outside of radical, outside the convention groups that have no place in the very conservative classical music world.

This about. Com site almost says it allwomenshistory.about.com/cs/music/tp/wome... standard challenge: Why no women Mozarts? Besides the fact that there's only been one male Mozart, could we have known if Mozart's sister had great talent, given family and social roles, expectations and education for women?

But some women nearly transcended those odds. Here are some albums where you can listen to the work of some women classical composers and performers, 1800 to present. (Albums may be difficult to find, and aren't currently listed with About's standard commerce partner.)yeah, and then they list ten works few have and that includes at least three works of vocal music from Operas, an accepted place for women in music.

Maybe in another 100 years, friend. Sources: My answer .

Because it is one field where discrimination still exists.......in a big way. I have an undergraduate degree in music. I love conducting.

I am (well, I once was) good at it. However, it was pretty clear that I wasn’t going to be able to do anything in the field of conducting unless I wanted to conduct a choir in a church or my students in a school. Right now, there are no "famous" women conductors - women who conduct an orchestra in a major city or on any recording label of which I am aware.

Yet, there are many EXCELLENT women conductors. I am so hoping that it will begin to change and that we will soon see women on major recording labels and leading renowned orchestras. (maybe around the same time that we tolerate a woman president?) There are also excellent women composers in the world.

I think that 20th century music is beginning to integrate women’s works into the literature. However, 20th century music is a bit "heavy" for most listeners. Dissonance, minimalist and 12 tone music is still difficult for most people to appreciate.

I think that I am resigned to the fact that most of the 20th century works won’t be "popular" until long after we are gone. The late Romantic period (the time right before the 20th century) recognizes a number of women as great composers, such as Rebecca Clarke, Cecile Chaminade and Louise Farrenc. But you are right, they are few and far between.

You can check out leonarda.com to read about women from all periods of music. Keep in mind that the music that most of us listen to readily (ex. Pop, rock, country) boasts both men and women songwriters, and that, at least can be a comfort.

Sources: my experience and education; leonarda. Com sweets's Recommendations A Guide to Piano Music by Women Composers: Volume I Composers Born Before 1900 (Music Reference Collection) Amazon List Price: $87.95 Used from: $97.950 Chamber Works by Women Composers Amazon List Price: $7.950 Used from: $7.950 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Laurie Anderson Amazon List Price: $37.950 Used from: $7.950 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 9 reviews) Live In New York Amazon List Price: $27.950 Used from: $7.950 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) Talk Normal: A Laurie Anderson Anthology Amazon List Price: $37.950 Used from: $17.950 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 8 reviews) Laurie Anderson is a more contemporary composer. She is worth a listen.

Video Here's a Laurie Anderson piece that is pretty representative. She is a performance artist and pretty minimalist. However, she does use the Western idea of "melody", so she has her definite following.

She did "Excellent Birds" with Peter Gabriel - that's a piece with which many are familiar.

Because it is still hard to be recognized as a woman for any kind of good work.

1 I was fortunate enough to hear a Cecile Chaminade piece on my local classical radio station. It was an exciting discovery. I know Laurie Anderson's work because a friend of mine is a fan.

Another 19th century composer that I am aware of, BTW, is Clara Schumann.

I was fortunate enough to hear a Cecile Chaminade piece on my local classical radio station. It was an exciting discovery. I know Laurie Anderson's work because a friend of mine is a fan.

Another 19th century composer that I am aware of, BTW, is Clara Schumann.

2 I guess I'm too late to post an 'answer' to this one as it seems to have been around for a while, but there are a couple of things I'd like to add. Firstly, I believe that most of you guys on here are from USA, and it could be that things are different over there as regards contemporary composers, as they are in the contemporary jazz genre, but things are certainly improving here. There are many 'competitions' around for up and coming composers, for one, and female composers are treated with the same regard as male.

One of our better known composers is Judith Weir, who regularly has slots on Radio 3, and and she recently featured as 'Composer of the Week'. I agree that there are fewer female composers around generally though, and having recently studied composition as part of my Music Degree, I did form my own theory on it! I found composing to be a totally time consuming, introspective, compulsive and self obsessive activity.It is immensely rewarding, and totally different to performing, and something that I intend to study further, but being a single mother with three children, it was incredibly difficult to juggle family life with the time and dedication required to compose.

The driving force of the composing was overwhelming, and whilst I believe that men are allowed by society to completely immerse themselves in there work, it is not so easy for women, who are expected to juggle so many other aspects of life. I'd welcome any comments to this!

I guess I'm too late to post an 'answer' to this one as it seems to have been around for a while, but there are a couple of things I'd like to add. Firstly, I believe that most of you guys on here are from USA, and it could be that things are different over there as regards contemporary composers, as they are in the contemporary jazz genre, but things are certainly improving here. There are many 'competitions' around for up and coming composers, for one, and female composers are treated with the same regard as male.

One of our better known composers is Judith Weir, who regularly has slots on Radio 3, and and she recently featured as 'Composer of the Week'. I agree that there are fewer female composers around generally though, and having recently studied composition as part of my Music Degree, I did form my own theory on it! I found composing to be a totally time consuming, introspective, compulsive and self obsessive activity.It is immensely rewarding, and totally different to performing, and something that I intend to study further, but being a single mother with three children, it was incredibly difficult to juggle family life with the time and dedication required to compose.

The driving force of the composing was overwhelming, and whilst I believe that men are allowed by society to completely immerse themselves in there work, it is not so easy for women, who are expected to juggle so many other aspects of life. I'd welcome any comments to this!

And I don't mean Elvis! Composer?" "Anyone who can recommend a good Classical Music Blog out there? " "Help Identifying a piece of classical music" "For over 30's only, please.

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And why. " "Why DON'T you like classical music?

Help Identifying a piece of classical music.

For over 30's only, please. Have you developed an appreciation of classical music?

Could you mention the names of five (5) composers of classical music and write some lines about why you like him or her.

Where to buy music scores for classical music.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.