Senior Project Advisor
Felicia Youngblood
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Spring 2023
Keywords
women composers, Western classical music, vocal recital, art song, arias
Abstract
Women have been underrepresented in Western European classical music for centuries. This paper, in conjunction with my senior voice recital, sheds light on how women’s voices can be shared in a variety of different contexts. I explore pieces composed by women, works with poetry written by women, and a few female characters, comparing those written by men to one penned by a woman. Besides becoming intimately familiar with the pieces through performance, in this thesis I share the stories of these musical works and those whose voices are expressed through them by providing background on composers and/or poets, examining characters, and engaging in music analysis. My multifaceted approach to exploring these pieces ultimately demonstrates the importance of women’s representation through the publication, accessibility, and performance of their musical works and the sharing of their stories.
(In addition to the paper at this page, translations and a recital program are available in the attached files below.)
Department
Music
Recommended Citation
Cassel, Caitriona, "Women in Classical Music" (2023). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 734.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/734
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Women composers; Music; Singing; Women singers; Solo cantatas
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf