New Directions

Song Cycles By Twentieth-Century Women Composers

can say that they have received too Alliance, The Canadian Music Cen- much attention. tre, The American Music Center, and Women have been writing music the International Alliance of Women since ancient times and have writ- in Music Composer phone numbers ten in all mediums. They have excelled and addresses, as well as lists of at the miniature, and song is cer- works, can be obtained from these tainly in that category. When we archival sources, if the music is not think of song cycles, we immediately available from a published source. recall the famous ones which have The following list of song cycles, become repertoire standards, such by a few women working in this as Winterreist Dichtcrliebe, Songs of century, maybe helpful as you begin Travel, Twelve Poems of Emily Dick- to expand your repertoire for con- inson, The Hermit Songs, or Chan- cert performances or studio teach- Sharon Mabry sons de Bilitis. Each of these, and ing. Additional suggestions will be many others like them, have gripped given in the next issue of the NATS As the twentieth century draws us with their texts and expressive Journal. to a close, the music of women musical settings, and they were all composers is being studied, written written by men. What about titles like Violet Archer (Canadian, h. about, and performed with more Clarière dans le Ciel (Lii Boulanger), 1913—) large compositional out- frequency. Prior to the last decade, it Four Epitaphs of Robert Burns (Miri- put in numerous mediums and was rare to hear music by women am Gideon), Songs before an Adieu in several styles. Generally eco- included in the regular concert fare (Barbara Kolb), Songs from Letters nomical, lean textures, explo- of major symphony orchestras, bands, (Libby Larsen), The White Amargi- ration of new sonorities, and choruses, or soloists. Happily, things Us (Rhian Samuel), Songs for the Four use of folk tunes. Moon Songs are changing, and that is good news Parts of Night (Nancy Van de Vate), (mez), Two Songs of William for composers, performers, and audi- or Irreveries from Sappho (Elizabeth Blake (mez), Primeval (Native ences alike. Now that we have had Vercoe)? All of these were written American Songs for tenor), women win all of the great prizes in by women, and there are dozens more Northern Journey (bar). Com- composition, from the Pulitzer to available for performance. plete list available from Canadi- the Grawemeyer Award, we can say So, how do we get titles like these an Music Centre. that they are truly being judged on to the forefront of concert repertoire? an equal basis with their male coun- First, we have to find the music. This Marguerite Canal (French, terparts and are faring quite well. requires the determination to spend 1890-1978) Won the Prix de As Mae West, that spunky film star a little time, research effort, and Rome in 1920. Numerous cycles of yesteryear, said, "Too much of a cash to add scores to our collection which reveal her feelings and good thing can be wonderful." We of teaching and singing library. More experiences, some show pas- hope that statement will apply to of this music is becoming available sion for children or for Brit- the frequency with which the music through publishing companies, desk- tany and the sea. Principal pub- of women composers is being pro- top publishing by the composers lishers: Jamin, Lemoine. Amours grammed in the next century. How- themselves, or archival resources triste (texts by Canal), 6 Chan- ever, it will be a long time before we such as the American Composer's sons écossaises (de Lisle), Au

't 39 t1...- S6, N. 1, ft. c3 'tA 1419N.4m-4 Az4 o o Sharon Mabry

jardin de l'infante (Samain), dels de Charles D'Orleans In 1986, she made her critically acclaimed Sept Poèmes (Baudelaire). (mezzo, pf), Pro & Antiverbe New York recital debut in Merkin Concert (s, vn). Principal Publishers: Hall, Abraham Goodman House. In 1988, Gloria Coates (American, b. Bote & Bock, Peer Southern, she was awarded a Solo Recitalist Fellow- 1934—) Prolific composer in Perform Our Music, G. ship by the National Endowment for the traditional and experimental Schirmer. Arts to perform recitals oftwentieth-centu- works. Highly dramatic, col- n.y music In 1990, she received a recording grant from the NEA to record works by oristic music. (3) Ophelia Songs Vercoe, Goossen, and Barber. (Shakespeare), (12) Transcen- Sharon Mabry first received national recogmtion in the 1980 National Public dental Songs (E. Dickinson) In addition to her concert career, Dr Radio "Art of Song" series, when she was a Mabry is professor of music at Austin Peag featured recitalist. She has performed at Emma Lou Diemer (Ameri- State University, Clarksville, Tennessee. international music festivals and is in de- She holds the Bachelor of Music degree can, b. 1927) A prodigy, wrote mand as a recitalist and master teacher of from Florida State University, where she several piano concerti by age vocal techniques. Her three recordings on studied with Elena Nikolaidi, and the 13. Music encompasses many the Owl and Coronet Labels have received Master of Music and Doctor of Musical styles from neoclassical to 12- outstanding critical acclaim and interna- Arts degrees from George Peabody College tone serialism and electronic tional air play on public radio. She will for Teachers, where she studied with Louis music. Four Chinese Love Poems have two new CDs available in 1997- Nicholas. As a scholarship recipient to the 1998. One features music by American (med. v.), The Four Seasons Franz-Schuhert-Institut in Austria, she composers Persis Vehar and Christina (sit), Three Mystic Songs studied with Walter Moore, Erik Werba, Kuzm.ych, and the other includes works by (ancient Hindu) s, b. Publish- Hans Hotter, Norman Shetler, and Tennessee composers Kenton Coe Jeffrey ers: Boosey and Hawkes, Brigitte Fassbaender Wood, and Michael Rose. Elkan Vogel, C. Fisher, Seesaw.

Vivian Fine (American, b. 1913—) Her compositions are laced with dissonance and humor. Principal publishers: The University of Notre Dame Department of Music Catamount Facsimile Ed., Mar- 2000-2001 Graduate Assistantships in %Toice gun. Four Lyric Songs (Poems Assistantships include complete tuition for two years by Dickinson, Joyce, and Keats), and an annual stipend of up to $9,000. Four Elizabethan Songs (Shake- General stipulations of the Assistantship: speare, Donne, and others). Degree Program: Master of Music in Performance & Literature Duties: Weekly voice teaching (private and class) Jacqueline Fontyn (Belgian, Private study with Georgine Resick - internationally recognized b. 1930—) The premiere com- soprano in the fields of opera, concert, and recordings poser in Belgium. Won Prix All assistantship candidates must have an undergraduate degree in music, de Rome (1959), Honnegger submit a tape of their public performance ability (or audition in person if pos- Prize (1987). Uses classical sible), send two transcripts of their undergraduate program and submit three forms in early works. Experi- letters of recommendation. mented with atonality. After For full details write: Director of Graduate Studies 1979, adopted modal lan- Department of Music, 105 Crowley Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 guage, aleatoric devices, and free rhythm. Seven Galgen- The Notre Dame Department of Music is an accredited member of N.A.S.M. lieder (s,ob,vc,pf), Deux Ron-

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