MMF Celebrates Women Composers (intro)

The varied stories of female classical composers across the centuries have one theme in common: that the extraordinary creative gifts of these musicians have been downplayed and, in many cases, completely suppressed by a historically misogynistic society. Yet, through their determination to transcend societal barriers and achieve acceptance as serious classical composers, these trailblazing women helped to secure the now widely-accepted place of female composers in the music world.

In celebration of these courageous heroines – alongside a nationwide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th U.S. constitutional amendment, granting American women the right to vote – the 2020 Manchester Music Festival features a work by a prominent female composer on each of our festival concerts.

In aiming to understand the challenges that women have faced in the past, consider the following quotations: 

“Here all the ladies play…It is well; it is nice. But I am afraid the ladies cannot help us much. They have not the creative power.”

– Antonin Dvorak

“She (Fanny Mendelssohn) regulates her house, and neither thinks of the public nor of the musical world, nor even of music at all, until her first duties are fulfilled. Publishing would only disturb her in these, and I cannot say that I approve of it.”

– Felix Mendelssohn

(Regarding the publication of Fanny’s compositions under his own name)

“She will always be the recipient and interpreter, but there is little hope she will be the creator.”

– George Upton, prominent 19th-century author

These statements represent a long-standing majority viewpoint, yet they belie the truth: that there are examples of women across the centuries who indeed overcame societal stereotypes to earn a place of vaunted stature in music history. MMF is proud to present the works of some of these inspirational women who defied the status quo to forge deserving pathways as creators in their own right.

-Adam Neiman, Artistic Director

MMF will be highlighting each of the women composers featured this summer on our blog.