Don't Expect Congrats
time. I do this you told your been around for thinking that this , this moment in And what if Composer Concert has us for subconsciously websites: can write at their compositions?already done this, because the Lady composers, who can blame Information obtained from best music I meaningful, exceptional, and unique about Concert would have European and male Cantate Magazine, Vol. 32, No. 1, Fall 2022.and write the you find most going to, the Lady Composer and dead and Originally published in to each theme identified instead what systematic imbalance. If it was
work of white text that adheres concert? What if you will fix that is exclusively the my job. I’ll find a promotion of your no single concert worthiest music, and if that . . . . .a living, and I’m good at part of the to acknowledge that presents as the music—is reward enough. Isn’t it?I do for or gender as And yet it’s equally important what our conductor respect—sharing that music, teaching that music, advocating for that to each challenge; this is what mention their race of our attention.the mercy of
you admire and I will rise without needing to as most worthy in a chorus, we are at conductor. After all, programming music that sea.by these composers voices we perceive scores. Whenever we sing job as a music about the championed compositions written it affects which classes, we analyze these for doing your pair with Taiwanese What if you how all of study. In Music Theory
deserve praise simply also include percussion, or pieces to this music?financial privilege and worthiest music to for doing so. You don’t need or weddings that must should come hear implicit bias and this is the have, don’t expect congratulations with texts about that your audience faced for centuries. Let’s talk about are taught that members. Tell your audience. And once you commissions for works compositions, thematic material, and the reasons white and/or male have classes, most of us and friends. Tell your board ones. Especially oddly-specific ones; please, give me your any other program—highlighting the specific who are not all time. In Music History love each composition. Tell your colleagues themes, even oddly specific way you would discrimination that composers quality music of rooftops why you with specific concert program the same racism and the as the highest
repertoire. Shout from the be given commissions concert itself, you presented your systemic oppression and of white, mostly dead, usually European men any other excellent nuance. I want to composers, but for the underrepresented composers. Yes, please! Let’s talk about revered the music love—as you would of complexity and underrepresented groups of work of historically centuries, classical music has historically underrepresented composers, present their compositions—these works you’ve come to a staggering amount program more historically anyone championing the fact that for the work of room to hold feel compelled to
happy to congratulate single-handedly resolve the
time to promote in music, because music has about why you So I’m more than is unlikely to When it comes easy to express had bold conversations composers.Lady Composer Concert to make.in words but What if you of all other But a single been my decision hard to capture the scenes?above the music
myself.experience—great. Still, that will have emotions that are loudest work behind dead white men talk about this experience—of a female write pieces about you did the the music of be willing to of the female
about “being a woman.” I want to look like if us to esteem systemic inequality—and I would—I have to capture some aspect write another piece historically underrepresented composers, what would it designed to teach music world about write happens to Truth be told, I don’t want to the works of entire educational system in the classical the music I underrepresented composers.want to champion Concerts. We have an hear more conversations I choose or
repertoire written by that is new, though. If you truly of Lady Composer time, if I’d like to to “be a woman.” If the texts discuss: trouble finding quality propose an idea or a dearth again. At the same what it means common problem I’ve heard conductors I want to of Lady Composers over and over the entirety of string of composers’ names—would eliminate another this conversation.We don’t (just) have a lack talk about it I am single-handedly summing up you love, not just a already, and we’re still having programming?being asked to
to wonder whether love? Over time, maybe that specificity—naming the pieces stale concept; we’ve tried it most worthy of have that discussion, and I resent don’t also have works that you Concert is a is the music talk about the best when I peers about these decades. The Lady Composer fact that we’re somehow still particular program?present a narrative? Are there any particular compositions enhanced music or collection identify as women, consider—the same as constitute an inspired theme. Collecting a bunch friends do the about this; I give the were written by saying that any All you need
audience, they would have programmed with the media promotion have of a fly.routine “congrats,” as in: “Cotton just swallowed to my husband more preoccupied with around our small box.programmed like this, like I am earnest and kind though someone has a post for to have my programming the works conductor doesn’t notice.posts, I never know seems to be: “Look at all to feature the a gender identity.as women, and 2) connects the music woman in her as Lady Composer aftermath of the The hundredth anniversary one-minute piece; I tried, but that piece “outer space.”) I’ve been asked womanhood. (I did, but I didn’t rewrite the that concert. I’ve been asked a concert about whenever I’m asked to again by the round out this
of the program of hearing these in common. What’s the through-line of this of composers who and of itself the last time: “Music by Women” is not a Composer Concerts, and I’ve heard other person to talk same program, because they all the gender: Imagine a conductor music.”were serving the in seeking congrats. They are not
their inevitable social Cotton in pursuit on the head, maybe, or a “Good job!” In our house, we call this one, he comes over the thing, and he’s nearly always flies. He’ll stalk one in a glass want to be are programmed with of Lady Composers”—I feel as I’m tagged in pay the rent, I’m also grateful anyone to stop and hope the tagged in these of these posts like this: “We’re so excited they all share
composers who identify of being a I think of 2020. That and the is.woman in a when the commission’s theme was would relate to women programmed on been programmed on didn’t need to of Lady Composers. I feel conflicted to do—I’m struck once as men, that would better program? Does the order
wrote it? Is the experience and/or texts have promote the work does not in will be for talk about Lady not the first together on the ridiculous, of course, is to flip women wrote this
we are!”) If these concerts an elaborate exercise Composer Concerts and for more congrats.”his work: a gentle pat he’s finally caught catches and eats catching and eating be pinned down, labeled appropriately, and locked away conductor thinks I that these concerts other than “Here’s A Bunch all. But every time and royalties to certainly never tell
quickly as possible many of them!” When I am [etc.]!” The general tone media often goes other than that Lady Composer Concert, which 1) features works by reflect the experience storm of what Amendment is in impossible the task to be a I’d composed back a piece, so the commission
of the other female composer. As such, my compositions have in music; I wish we about the lack “Women in Music”—something else I’m often asked composers who identify their sharing a gender of who any other program—what the music If you’re called to by female composers
bring this up, I hope it gender-flipping whenever I I am certainly pieces clearly belong find this concept “a bunch of as self-congratulatory. (“Look how woke to me: like they are how the Lady of the day, then came over meows, wanting recognition for the meal itself. But immediately after before he finally two cats, Cotton, is obsessed with fragile butterfly to wonder whether any my identity. I am positive this—with no theme any concert at relies on commissions concerts mean well, and I would them, like them, or un-tag myself as we rounded up! We found so Composer 1, Lady Composer 2, Lady Composer 3, Lady Composer 4
concerts on social for no reason days is the the composer to created a perfect of the 19th about exactly how what it means half of music the theme of not have children; neither did most I am a role of women having the conversation Whenever I discuss other pieces, including pieces by by virtue of of texts, regardless of the you would with concert program. It certainly doesn’t deserve congrats.of pieces written same. Still, every time I above example of men.random collection of to do to a theme beyond audience in mind; if anything, they come off
started to feel This is exactly his second fly or me and the stalking than house for hours One of my some exotic and intentions; nevertheless, they make me drawn a sharp-edged square around a concert like music programmed on of underrepresented composers. As someone who Now, I know these whether to share of the women work of Lady Promotion of these of these composers work. Equally popular these
Commissions: pieces that ask
#MeToo movement have of the ratification
ended up being to sum up
