This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Caitlin Flood ’12 (Bellerose Terrace, N.Y.), a government and law major,is working as an EXCEL Scholar with Jennifer Kelly, assistant professor of music, on research for a forthcoming book and DVD on unsung female composers.
Mozart. Bach. Beethoven. Haydn. Schubert. Most of us are able to recognize these names as 18th century classical musicians. Now try these: Louise Farrenc, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Marianne Martinez. If you’re unsure of who these women are, you’re not alone. These women wrote groundbreaking music during the same time period as the men listed above, but were often left out of the spotlight because of their gender.
Despite the progress America has made in gender equality, women today still feel the effects of years of exclusion in the musical arena. Professor Kelly is trying to change that by writing a book about women composers in the 21st century. As director of choral activities at Lafayette, Dr. Kelly is living proof that women are vital to keeping the production and performance of music alive. For the book, Professor Kelly has traveled all over the U.S. to interview women who compose many genres of music including jazz, electro-acoustic, film, instrumental, electronic, and choral music.
As I transcribe Professor Kelly’s interviews with these fascinating women, I am learning about how they became involved in creating music and their hopes for music in the future. These women have learned from past women composers and work every day to ensure that their own music will live on to be played and enjoyed by future generations. Professor Kelly has captured their creative processes, goals, concerns, and thoughts and plans. The women being interviewed have much to say about the world of music in the 21st century and know what needs to be done to sustain it. This book will serve as a snapshot of what things were like for women composers and will be a teaching tool in years to come. By documenting these women’s words, I have been given the opportunity to help preserve a vital part of American culture.
As I listen to the stories of these women, I am astounded by their dedication to creating music, while knowing that few people will recognize its beauty in their lifetime. All of the women are very realistic about the decline of classical music. In today’s world, the Internet, television, and other stimuli are ubiquitous and often distract consumers from classical music. Professor Kelly will create a DVD to go along with the book, providing an engaging multimedia experience for the viewer. This DVD will showcase each of the women for five minutes, during which time they will speak about their creative process or perform a piece of their self-composed music.
The women involved in Professor Kelly’s project are determined to keep their respective musical genres alive by informing people about their work and reaching out to all audiences. As composer Beth Anderson discussed during her interview, “You cannot have an opinion on something to which you’re not exposed.” This book will provide exposure for some of America’s most talented female composers and will hopefully pave the way for future generations of women composers.