Morning journal and courier., 1892-08-20
THE FLEETING SHOW.


Written for the JOURNAL AND CouRIKR.l
WOMEN AS MUSICAL COMPOSERS.
1t has been repeatedly asserted that as
musicians women have no creative facul-
ty. While it is conceded that they have
been the inspiration of much that is noble
in music, and as executants are capable of
interpreting the compositions of others
with sympathetic fidelity, even sublimating
them to higher meaning through their own
refined individuality, it is still averred
that as composers they have never been
able to gain an honorable position.
1t is somewhat singular that while poets,
sculptors and painters generously acknowl
edge the genius of their sisters working in
the same lines of creative art, the musi-
clan, generally speaking, would limit her
to the executive eide of music. 1t is much
as if Robert Browning had said to his
wife Elizabeth: "You may read my poems
in public if you like, and interpret their
inner meaning to those who need or enjoy
such revelation, but as for writing poems
yourself-that is impossible"
Anton Rubinstein, if we may believe
what we read, claims that women have
''created nothing for posterity, not even a
song" Rev II. r. Haweis has written:
''Music has an unlimited number of nota
BILE sirens and lady inetrumentalists, but
not one original female composer has yet
made her appearance" Perhaps it is
hardly fair to quote this, since 1t was writ
ten twenty years ago or more, and in the
| meantime he may have discovered signs
| of the progress which women are making
in music and in art in literature and in
| science. The judgment of Rubinstein,
however, is of recent announcement, but
may yet be modified since he also has said
| that the women of to-day are Learned,
| questioning, reasoning"
| 1t Is pleasing to find one champion who
believes that women possess the creative
| faculty, and that their minds are fully able
| to grasp the intricate rules of musical
| composition. Mr.. A. Willhartitz of Los
Angeles, Cal, has given much thought to
this subject, and has embodied the results
of his research in an essay entitled "Wo-
men in Music" He has also prepared a
list of works, by women composers, in the
highest and most difficult branch of the
art, the dramatic form, which will tend to
show that they are capable of writing
some music worth perpetuating. The old
cat of these compositions is a serious op-
! cru LII 1OuC hCtb WIlLIou ny MduoLuo Ao Ia
| Guerre in 1894. The list of one hun
dred and ffty-three works comprises
fifty-fve serious operas, two oratorios and
ffty-three comic operas; the remainder
being operettas, cantatas, ballets and the
like. There is an average of two acts te
each, being as good proportion as can bs
found in the works of male composers. Ir
the comic operas and ballets the French
predominate, while the Italian, English and
German women wrote more dignifsd and
earnest music. In the number Of compo
sitions the Princess Amalie of Saxony, ,wht
also wrote several German dramas, head
, the list with fifteen works, most of which
are of the serious style.
Outside of dramatic music the names o.
women composers are numerous as may b.
seen by consulting any large catalogue o
modern music. Madam Oury, who as al
; executant was ranked with Clar
/ Wieck Schumann, composed one huudret
q and eighty pieces of drawing room music
and Fanny Hensel, the favorite sister O
Mendelssohn, wrote a number of ex auisit
songs: OF song writer's we have enougl
to fully disprove half of Rubinstein's as
sertion, and some of their songs are WORT
}, | perpetuatiug since in both melody AM
f harmony they are exceptionally fine. Th
q world boasts of but two women doctors G
music, one the Princess of Wales, th
o other Annie Wilson Patterson, whose It'll
d was bestowed in 1889 by the Royal Iris
n Academy of Music. She is a poet an
. essayist as well as a composer and music,
- director.
70 The young italian, Virginia Mariani, r,
> ceived signal distinction at the centenar
10 festival held in honor of Rossini, he
"Apotheosis of Rossini" being considere
worthy of prize.
The "Ode Triumphale" of August
Holmes was composed in honor Of IL
r French Republic, and produced at Par
II in connection with the Exposition of 1S9
"a having been accepted as by far the fine
composition offered in the compositio,
;, Twelve hundred musicians took part j
3. rendering the music, and $50, 900 was e:
n pended upon its production, effecting
/ magnificent combination of the beauties /,
:, Greek art, musical skill, and all the mo-
N ern resources of scenic representation
le Among the successful women compose
ID of the day is Mrs II. A. Beach, who b.
~ completed the "Festival Jubilate," for O
chestra and chorus, to be presented at Il
Is opening of the Columbian Expoeitio
Of She has also nearly completed an aria ar
20 recitstive from Schiller's "Marie Stuart
r and is engaged upon an orator.
These few facts, If not su
a. icienty weighty to assist 3,
to settling this much sgitsted topic, 60