Tim Mahon writes:

>Not exactly thin on the ground, but recordings of female composers are
>still rare enough that a new release involves trumpeting of the same ...
>
>...  There certainly seem to be more than a mere handful of female
>composers from a cursory search of existing resources, but woefully
>under-represented in recordings.  I would certainly be interested in
>learning more.

Unfortunately women are subjected to a double whammy: On the one hand,
we have people (like Aaron Copland, for example) obviously interested
in classical music, who ask the question why are there no great women
composers (answer: because they don't expect to find great women composers
for reasons that have nothing to do with music).  On the other hand, most
women composers happen to belong to the 20th century, a period relatively
unknown among classical music lovers.  People who talk knowledgeably
about Baldessare and Fibich nevertheless look blank at the mention of
Dallapiccola and Barta.  I'd be interested to know how many listers knew
any works by Louise Talma, Rebecca Clarke, or Laura Clayton.  And, no, I'm
not taking a survey.

Steve Schwartz