Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-06-01
WOMEN IN MUSIC.
A Professional Opinion on the Subject 2r
Mrs. Beach, of boston.


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. Tho
Boston Travellersays
This composer, Mrs. II. II. A. Beach,
was also engaged to compose a jubilate
for 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 to the ques'
ton, "lave you anything to say on Mr.
Dvorah'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 20
broad and sweeping Il statement from
one occupying so prominent position
in the profession of music 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
otherwise it would have occurred to
him that from the year 1915 to the year
1885 women have composed 1913 works,
including 55 serious operas, cantatas,
SO comic operas, II operettas, 4 sing
spiele, 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
! 16 four-act operas, and 20 other compo-
sitions with an average OF two acts.
"Thcse are, at least, as good pro-
portion as can be found in the 81, 900
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
poldine Blakctl1a, whose pieces were
admired by Beethoven; Josephine Lang,
Mendelssohn's friend, Fanny Hensel,
Memberships sister; Mime, Clara Schu-
mann and Elsie Poll1o, In France, Lou
Use Puget and Nine, Viardot Garcia,
and, most distinguished of also far
as scientific attainments go-Augusta
Holmes; in England Mrs. Dolby and
Virginia Gabrielle
Coming down to the present time it
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.
at is just to add here an allusion to
the regulations already held by Mile.
Chanfnade, Mile. Holmes, of France,
! Sonora dc 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. 1t seems to
me that there is a warm interest shown
in musical composition at the present
time by women in France, England,
Germany, Italy and the United States,
and that each year compositions of
greater value and Importance are being
produced by them. More women are
interested in the serious study of the
science of music as well as the art than
formerly, as shown by the results of
the teaching of Conservatives at home
and abroad.
1T is also equally clear that women as
executants are doing good work in pre-
senting notably the works of Reuben
stein and Dvorall, in so brilliant a 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.