Women composers will be celebrated by Research Center

'Alive By Her Own Hand' will include lectures, concerts, recitals and papers

Participants in the upcoming program on women composers include (clockwise from left) the Cecilia Circle, Ketty Nez, Livia Lin, Pam Dellal and Mary Lou Newmark

The Brandeis University Women's Studies Research Center (WSRC) will celebrate women composers with a weekend of concerts and conferences Jan. 22-23.

The two-day event, "Alive By Her Own Hand: Women Composers As Performers of Their Work," will include lectures, recitals and papers delivered by specialists from around the country on such topics as Dame Ethel Smyth, Pauline Viardot, Mary Lou Williams, Louise Talma, Maria Antonia Walpurgis, and Augusta Browne.

The weekend will be framed by two concerts — "Living Artists & Current Movements,"  a vibrant program of jazz, unusual song, and avant garde instrumentals and "Ave Regina: Women's Musical Creations in Convent and Accademia,"  a program of works from 17th-century Italian composers - which will both take place in the in the Slosberg Music Center, while the lectures will be held at the Women's Studies Research Center in the Epstein Building.

All the weekend's events are free to Brandeis students, faculty and staff; preregistration is encouraged. The events also are open to the public; fees are $35 to register for both days ($20 for students, seniors and low-income), including concert admission; or $10 for concert admission alone ($5 for students, senior or low-income). Online registration is available.

The events are being organized by WSRC Visiting Scholar Vivian Montgomery and Resident Scholar Liana Curtis as part of the center's Women and Music Project.

Check the full schedule below or visit the website for more information.

Saturday, Jan. 22:           

12:15-1 p.m. - (WSRC) Check-in and informal reception

1-1:45 p.m. -  (WSRC) Welcome & keynote: Drs. Liane Curtis & Vivian Montgomery

2-3 p.m. - (WSRC) Lecture/recital: Performing Maria Antonia (Maria Antonia Walpurgis) - Dr. April James                                                   

3:15-4 p.m. - (WSRC) Paper: Dame Ethel Smyth - Dr. Amy E. Zigler

4:15-5:15 p.m. - (WSRC) Recital & Monologue: Pauline Viardot: Composer, Singer, Forgotten Muse - Katherine Eberle, Mezzo-soprano and piano

8 p.m. - (Slosberg) Concert - Living Women Artists & Current Musical Movements

Works include: Disir (texts from Old Norse Poetic Edda) - Eva Kendrick, the moon passes over (flute and piano) - Ketty Nez, The Tiger is Awake (electric violin and poetry) - Mary Lou Newmark, Contenido (saxophone and piano) - Florencia Gonzalez, Six Lyrics of Marilyn Hacker (with slide whistle) - Tamara Cashour, Tales of White Flowers (piano) - Livia Lin, Simpatico (electric bass) - Jodi Stevens.

Following the concert, there will be a "talk-back" with artists over chocolate.

Sunday, January 23:            

12:30-1:15 p.m. - (WSRC) Augusta Browne: A Legacy by Her Own Hand - Dr. Bonny H. Miller

1:15-2 p.m. - (WSRC) Louise Talma's Performances of "The Alcestiad"  - Kendra P. Leonard

2-2:45 p.m. - (WSRC) "Mary's Ideas:" Mary Lou Williams' Early Arrangements and Improvisations - Sarah Caissie Provost

3:30 p.m. - (Slosberg) Concert - Ave Regina: Women's Musical Creations in Convent and Accademia

Includes works by: Barbara Strozzi, Chiara Cozzolani, and Isabella Leonarda featuring Janet Youngdahl, soprano, Pamela Dellal, mezzo soprano, Vivian Montgomery, harpsichord and Laury Gutierrez, viola da gamba

5:30 p.m. - (WSRC) Closing Reception


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