The course focuses on the contributions of female and non-binary musicians who have composed, improvised, or collaboratively created music primarily in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. We will listen closely to their music, asking questions such as: what were the historical, institutional, cultural and educational factors that supported or hindered their work? How do they define their gender identities, gender roles, and sexual orientation, and to what extent do they relate these to their work? How do these identities function intersectionally with others, such as racial, class, national, and transnational identities? How has their work been received? What structures have historically enabled inclusion or fostered exclusion into the musical canon?
The course is not just about individuals overcoming obstacles; it is intended to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of women creators to the history of music. We will also talk about activism: how to "move the needle" and work towards great representation of women's music in different genres today. A class visit to the Schlesinger Library will help us to unlock the potential in women's archives. Guest speakers will offer additional perspectives.
We will consider a wide range of women creators from the early 20th century to the present, with examples from classical, jazz, and popular music.
Goals:
To recognize women's experiences and contributions in music of the 20th and 21st centuries
To listen to a lot of good music
To gain a basic understanding of gender theory and feminism
To learn about how using a gender lens changes how we think of music and music history