In the following article, which was originally published in 2009, you will learn how Dr. Liane Curtis, with the support of Brandeis University’s Women’s Studies Research Center, was successful in having one of Boston’s prominent female composers, Amy Beach, added to the Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell, which up until that time included a list of all male composers. The Hatch Memorial Shell is an outdoor concert venue on the Charles River Esplanade in the Back Bay section of Boston, Massachusetts.
Yearly Archives: 2017
New Recording of Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor, Op. 45!
Released today (3/3/17) by Hyperion Records, the new album entitled The Romantic Piano Concerto ~ 70 features pianist Danny Driver and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performing three wonderful piano concerti by historic female composers! These works include the monumental Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor, Op. 45 by Amy Beach as well as the Concertstück in C sharp minor, Op. 40 by Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) and the Piano Concerto in D minor by Dorothy Howell (1898-1982).
“Danny Driver’s expertly skilled and refined piano performances are equally matched by his sense of musical phrasing and expressive nuance throughout the contrasting light, sometimes playful passages and heavy, demanding virtuosic sections. Together with the renowned BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Driver has provided us with fresh interpretations of three exquisite piano concerti by all too often neglected female composers, Amy Beach, Cécile Chaminade and Dorothy Howell. In addition to coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8, this 2017 release also perfectly coincides with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Amy Beach. Bravo to Mr. Driver and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for their splendid contributions!” – Chris A. Trotman (www.amybeach.org)
The CD and MP3 album are available via Hyperion Records. The MP3 album is also available on iTunes!
Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Spring 2017 Performance Grants applications are now being accepted!!
Recent events, such as the January 21 Women’s March, reveal a growing awareness of women as targets of abuse and inequality. As women (and men) rise up to fight these injustices, it is also time for the symphonic world to examine and revise the practices of systematically excluding music composed by women.
We at Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy (WPA) offer our performance grants to help orchestras address this situation and strive for programming that is vital, diverse and inclusive.
Applications are now being accepted for our Spring 2017 Performance Grants, with awards of $500 to $1000 available to all U.S. orchestras. The deadline is March 10 and the application form is available here. Applicants will receive notification of their status on March 31, and checks are mailed to successful applicants within two weeks.
Grants awarded in the Spring 2017 cycle will be for performances from June 1, 2017 to August 31, 2019 — the idea being to allow (and encourage) planning two seasons ahead (even for summer festivals). We plan to continue offering our grants in both the Spring and Fall in order to accommodate the planning processes of more ensembles.
Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy is a non-profit organization founded to continue the legacy of The Women’s Philharmonic (1980-2004). Committed to honoring and advocating for the work of historic and contemporary women composers, our Performance Grants are central to our mission. We promote the performance of unjustly neglected music and encourage orchestras to engage in adventurous and inclusive programming beyond the familiar masterpieces.
All U.S. orchestras – community, professional, and youth – are eligible to receive funding. We suggest that applicants plan to perform more than one work by a woman, and include at least one historic work. Repertoire suggestions are here, including links to music publishers and recordings.
As orchestras strive to invigorate audiences and reinforce the continued relevance and value of the symphonic tradition, WPA hopes to help ensembles broaden their programming and present concerts more reflective of the rich and diverse history of classical music. There are countless underperformed musical treasures deserving to be heard in concert halls.
Find more information and the online application at www.wophil.org/grants. Contact grants@wophil.org with any questions you may have. We look forward to receiving your application, and we wish your orchestra great success in making future discoveries!
In addition to our performance grants, we have another great piece of news! WPA is launching a music publishing project: Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy Publications will help make more music accessible and available through carefully edited and affordable orchestral scores and parts. On our website (under the “Repertoire” link), we are offering performance materials by composers including Amy Beach, Marion Bauer, Rebecca Clarke, and Elfrida Andrée.
Society of American Music 43rd (2017) Conference Will Include a Performance of Amy Beach’s Violin Sonata, Op. 34!
For the first time in its history, SAM heads north of the border to La Belle Province for the 43rd annual conference. Hosted by McGill University, the SAM conference will take place on March 22-26, 2017 in Montréal at the Marriott Chateau Champlain (1050 de la Gauchetiere West, Montreal Quebec H3B 4C9).
On Thursday afternoon (March 23), violinist Katharina Uhde and pianist R. Larry Todd will perform Amy Beach’s Violin Sonata in A minor, op. 34, and discuss its “methods peculiar to Brahms.”
For more information concerning hotel info, room rates/reservations, travel info, etc., please click here.
London based orchestra will be performing Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony!!
Formed in 2009, Harmony Sinfonia is a vibrant symphony orchestra performing three or four concerts a year and promoting classical music to audiences in south-east London. The concert will take place on 4 March 2017 and is generously supported by the Ambache Charitable Trust, an organisation that raises the profile of music by women. More specific information including the full program, location and pricing is included in the attached flyer.
For more information, please visit their website here.
2017 Amy Beach & Teresa Carreño Conference Event at University of New Hampshire
For the 150th anniversary of Amy Beach’s birth AND the 100th anniversary of Teresa Carreño’s death this year (2017), we are collaborating with the University of New Hampshire library and archives in presenting a conference event entitled “American Women Pianist-Composers: A Celebration of Amy Beach and Teresa Carreño.” The conference event will take place on September 15 & 16, 2017 at the University of New Hampshire library.
A call for papers for this event has been issued, and the deadline for submissions is April 1, 2017. You may learn more about the conference event and the parameters for paper submissions by visiting the event website here.
