A Music of Their Own: Recent Episodes
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Music is an essential part of the human experience, but the industry is dominated by men. Host Majel Connery uncovers extraordinary stories of women who have carved a path to success despite the odds. You'll also be introduced to the unique, imaginative and exceptional music that her guests have created over the course of their careers.
We’re bringing you a special episode of A Music of Their Own for Women’s History Month. Our current moment will certainly go down in women’s history as the ‘#MeToo era.’ #MeToo went viral in 2017 following the exposure of numerous sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. But Classical music has its own movement–sparked in part by Anne Midgette, who served as chief Classical music critic for the Washington Post. Host Majel Connery sits down with Anne to revisit her 2018 #MeToo article that prompted three prominent men in Classical music to lose their jobs.
Suggested Articles:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/assaults-in-dressing-rooms-groping-during-lessons-classical-musicians-reveal-a-profession-rife-with-harassment/2018/07/25/f47617d0-36c8-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html
https://www.npr.org/2018/10/24/660248392/cleveland-orchestra-fires-two-leading-musicians-after-sexual-misconduct-investig
https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2019/04/24/716707455/top-dutch-orchestra-and-ousted-conductor-daniele-gatti-settle-dispute
https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2022/12/19/1144082321/juilliard-robert-beaser-sexual-misconduct-allegation
This episode opens with the expression of transness in composer inti figgis-vizueta’s Music for Transitions. inti talks about a boycott of her music, and how and when to share negative experiences in a public way without it backfiring.
See the Music For Transitions video with Andrew Yee here.
inti’s website
Music You Heard:
Imago - inti figgis-vizueta, Attacca Quartet
“Music for Transitions” - inti figgis-vizueta, Andrew Yee
“Openwork, knotted object” - inti figgis-vizueta
“coradh (bending)” - inti figgis-vizueta
“We Need a Room,” Childworld - Sky Creature
Angélica Negrón is a Puerto Rican-born composer and multi-instrumentalist. She talks about the paradox of writing “cute” music as a petite woman, and whether she is trapped into reinforcing a stereotype. Angélica discusses a difficult moment after appearing with her band, Balún, on NPR’s Tiny Desk, and her exposure to drag as a child.
Angélica’s website
Music You Heard:
“Ruta Panorámica for Cello, Bandoneón and Electronics,” Inbal Segev: 20 for 2020 Vol. II - Angélica Negrón, Inbal Segev, Julien Labro
“dóabin,” Old Fires Catch Old Buildings - Angélica Negrón, loadbang
“El Espanto,” Prisma Tropical - Balún
“Panorama” - Angélica Negrón, Nicholas Photinos
“We Need a Room,” Childworld - Sky Creature
Wu Fei is a classically-trained composer, singer and master of the guzheng, a Chinese zither. Fei describes growing up in the restrictive creative environment of Chinese conservatories, and compares it with the openness of music training in the U.S. After the near loss of her first child, we discuss Fei’s new vision for herself.
Fei’s website
Music You Heard:
“When Syringa Falls,” Pluck - Wu Fei, Gyan Riley
“Bu Da Da,” Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn - Wu Fei, Abigail Washburn
“Cloud of Birds,” A Distant Youth - Wu Fei, Carla Kihlstedt
“Minikin Warrior,” Pluck - Wu Fei, Gyan Riley
“We Need a Room,” Childworld - Sky Creature
Composer Sarah Cahill discusses her Future is Female project; the parallel between her brilliant but oppressive father and 19th-century composer Felix Mendelssohn; and the problematic phrase “artists who happen to be women.”
Sarah’s website
Music You Heard:
"En rêve en mer," Op. 28 - Teresa Carreño, Sarah Cahill
"Larghetto," 4 Lieder for Piano, Op. 8 - Fanny Mendelssohn, Sarah Cahill
“Au sein de la nature: III. Le murmure des blés” - Leokadiya Kashperova, Sarah Cahill
"Allegro Moderato," 4 Lieder for Piano, Op. 8 - Fanny Mendelssohn, Sarah Cahill
“In C, Too” - Elena Ruehr, Sarah Cahill
“We Need a Room,” Childworld - Sky Creature
In response to the question “Is music by women womanish?” composer Sarah Kirkland Snider discusses “emotional” music by Classical composers; charges of femininity in her own music by The New York Times; aging gracefully; and sex appeal.
Sarah’s website
More classical music statistics:
https://americanorchestras.org/2022-orchestra-repertoire-report/
https://donne-uk.org/research-new/
Music You Heard:
“Agnus Dei,” Mass for the Endangered - Sarah Kirkland Snider, Gallicantus
Adagio for Strings - Samuel Barber
“Morning Mood,” Peer Gynt, Op. 23 - Edvard Grieg
“Prelude,” Unremembered - Sarah Kirkland Snider, Shara Nova
"Prélude in E minor," Op. 28, no. 4 - Frédéric Chopin
“The Lotus Eaters,” Penelope - Sarah Kirkland Snider, Shara Nova
“We Need a Room,” Childworld - Sky Creature
Grammy-nominated composer, flutist and vocalist Nathalie Joachim discusses a surge in recognition of Black women composers; being the only Black woman in an ensemble; the album Fanm d’Ayiti; her Haitian heritage; and her fearless pursuit of what moves her, regardless of success.
Nathalie’s website
Music You Heard:
“Papa Loko (Interlude: September 24, 1918),” Fanm d’Ayiti - arr. Nathalie Joachim, Spektral Quartet
"Life Lines" - Flutronix
“Dam mwen yo,” Fanm d’Ayiti - Nathalie Joachim, Spektral Quartet
"Stacked" - Flutronix
“Suite pou Dantan: III. Resevwa Li,” Fanm d’Ayiti - Nathalie Joachim, Spektral Quartet
“We Need a Room,” Childworld - Sky Creature
Host Majel Connery explores what it feels like to be a woman in music and the immense drive and resolve required to succeed.