Changing the Landscape: Toward Equitable Programming Highlighting Choral Works by Women Composers

Changing the Landscape advocates for increased programming of choral compositions by women composers. Progress toward equitable programming is being realized especially for twenty-first century women composers; however, when surveying which pieces are selected within major genres of the choral canon, works by men are represented disproportionately. It is my view that this gap perpetuates not for lack of feminist research or artistic output, but for lack of an established tradition and lack of exposure (e.g., choral literature texts, choral conference concert programming, reading sessions). Conductors have more access than ever before to a myriad of high quality choral works by women in every genre performed in concert. This document analyzes choral works for eight varied genres and highlights the composer as a guide for conductors who feel compelled, as I do, to do their part in lessening this disparity. The compositions I use as exemplars are "Baciai per aver vita" from Ghirlanda de madrigali a quatro voci (1593) by Vittoria Aleotti and for which I include a new performance edition, "Abendfeier in Venedig" from Drei Gemischte Chöre (1848) by Clara Schumann, "Peace I Leave with You" from Three Choral Responses, Op. 8 (1891) by Amy Beach, "Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord" (1953) arranged by Undine Smith Moore, "The Crucifixion" from Simon Bore the Cross (1964) by Margaret Bonds, "Benedictus" from amass (2007) by Jocelyn Hagen, "Ring Out, Ye Bells!" (2013) by Dale Trumbore, "Goin' Across the Mountain" (2016) by Ellen Gilson Voth, and "Even After All This Time..." (2016) by Reena Esmail. I append interviews with Jocelyn Hagen, Dale Trumbore and Ellen Gilson Voth.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctorate Degree

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Hutton, Richard Jon

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Torkelson, Paul

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Lindberg, Julianne
• Parker, Katherine
• Pollard, Kate
• Elliott, Marta

• Choral Music
• Concert Repertoire
• Diverse Programming
• Gender Studies
• Music History
• Women Composers

Statement dc:rights

• Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 United States

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11714/8529

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/8529