Women performing music : the emergence of American women as classical instrumentalists and conductors / by Beth Abelson Macleod.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Macleod, Beth Abelson, 1945-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women musicians--United States.

Women musicians.

United States.

Instrumentalists.

Conductors (Music)--United States.

Conductors (Music).

Physical Description:

ix, 205 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2001]

Summary:

This book explores the experiences of women from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who pursued careers as public performers, charting a new course in an era when womens musical activities were generally consigned to the parlor. Certain instruments had historically evolved as "appropriate for women, " and the flamboyant personalities and extroverted emotionalism of Romantic virtuosos and conductors were the antithesis of those qualities traditionally admired in women. However, this work presents an unusual group of young women who nonetheless became noted virtuosos, studying abroad as teenagers and touring North America upon their return. Detailed profiles are given of three remarkable musicians from among that unusual group: Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler (1863-1927)--virtuoso pianist, wife and mother; Ethel Leginska (1886-1970)--pianist, conductor, and 1920s "new woman"; and Antonia Brico (1902-19

Contents:

1. "Whence Comes the Lady Tympanist?" / Gender and Musical Instruments 9

2. "He Is Himself a Grand Piano" / The Virtuoso and The Conductor 22

3. "Spoiled for Domesticity" / American Students Abroad 35

4. "An Able Musician and Delightful to Look At" / Touring North America 51

5. "A Paderewski in Petticoats" / Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler 71

6. "A Gypsy Demon Possessed the Little Woman" / Ethel Leginska 96

7. "Why Not Dr. Brico?" / Antonia Brico 124

8. "Playing with Style" / The Late Twentieth Century 140.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 183-196) and index.

ISBN:

0786409045

OCLC:

44818472