Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-06-29
WOMEN IN MUSIC.
4 Prof essional Opinion ON the subject by
Mrs. Beach, Of Boston.

Z n GEnt teNititdA Olinkom ON the SUBJECT ~
Mrs. Beach, of Boston.
Dvorak, the composer, has expressed
an opinion of women as composers
which has called forth the following
opinion from Mrs Beach of Boston. The
Boston Traveller,says:
This composer, Mrs. II. II. 4. Beach,
was also engaged 10 compose a jubilate
fer the Columbian celebration at Chi
cago. Three other women composers
of Europe have been selected for similar
honors. The work of Mrs Beach has
received especial praise for its fresh,
original ideas and independent treat
ment, which is rather contrary to the
popular idea of woman's work.
Mrs. Beach, in answer 10 the ques-
ton, Have you anything to say on Mr..
Dvorak's statements concerning the
creation of music by woman ably
covered the ground as follows:
mr.. Dvorak. like Reubenstein, takes
the position, if we may credit the news
paper interviews with him, that women
are lacking in the creative power. So
broad and sweeping a statement from
one occupying so prominent position
in the profession of mSsic and before
the public, naturally carries weight,
but it is reasonable to suppose that Mr..
Dvorak, in the turmoil incident TO his
Locating in an entirely new country,
and with the press of work that is
forced upon him in his new relations,
has scarcely had time TO consider the
subject in all its bearings.
him that from the year 1915 to the year
1885 women have composed 153 works,
including 50 serious operas, cantatas,
SO comic operas, Il operettas, sing
| spiele, 4 ballets, vaudevilles. , orati-
rias, one each Of farces, pastorales,
Mosques, ballads and buffas There are
81 one-act, IS two-act. 30 three-act, and
1G fOur-act operas, and % other compo-
sitions with an average OF two acts.
These axe, at least, as good a pro-
portion as can be found in the p, 600
works Of male composers. The nation
atty comprises natives of France, Italy,
Germany, England, Holland. Russia.
| Spain and Sweden In particular, there
was among Germans the Princess ANA
| lie, sister of the Great Frederick; Leo
4 poldine Blaketka. whose pieces We're
admired by Beethoven; Josephine Lang,
Mendelssohn's friend, Fanny Hensel,
4 Mondelssohn's sister; Nine Clara Schu-
mann and Elsie polko, In France, Lou
Use Puget and Nine Niardot Garcia,
and, most distinguished Of all-so far
as scientific attainments go-Augusta
Holmes; in England Mrs. Dolby and
| Virginia GabEielle
Coming down to the present time il
would be unbecoming in me to allude
! to my own work. and ! should. there
fore prefer to leave the record | have
made in the hands of musical historians
and critics.
1T is just to add here an allusion to
the regulations already held by Mile
Chanfinade. Mile. Holmes, of France,
Sonora de Lodi, who are announced by
Mrs. Palmer, president of the board of
lady managers of the Columbian expo
sition, as having contributed important
works TO the exposition. II seems to
me that there is 9. warm interest shown
in musical composition at the present
time by women in Fraucc, England,
I Germany, Italy and the United States,
! and that each year compositions OF
i greater value and Importance are being
I produced by them. More women are
interested in the serious study of the
4 science Of music as well as the art than
/ formerly, as shown 10y the results of
the teaching of conservaturies at home
and broad.
1T is also equally clear that women as
executants are doing good work in pre-
senting notably the works of Reuben
stein and Dvorak in SO brilliant man
ner as TO excite the interest of the pub
lie, and produce popularity of some OF
their lesser works equal, if not in some
cases superior to the best efforts of the
male performers"