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:

Assaults In Dressing Rooms. Groping During Lessons. Classical Musicians Reveal A Profession Rife With Harassment:

https://tinyurl.com/37uwh5ea

Cleveland Orchestra Fires 2 Leading Musicians After Sexual Misconduct Investigation: https://tinyurl.com/mr3y8enu

Top Dutch Orchestra And Ousted Conductor Daniele Gatti Settle Dispute: https://tinyurl.com/2hcjfwjw

More Than 500 Musicians Demand Accountability After Juilliard Misconduct Allegations: https://tinyurl.com/mrx9dyks

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

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

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

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