Mar 1, 20237 min read

Changing the choral narrative: resources for gender balanced programming

Referencing the choice of music related to the gender of a composer often yields significant backlash from both sides of the fence: those who want to perpetuate the Western European choral canon and the non-male composers who want their music chosen primarily for merit. The first camp asserts music should be chosen based solely on whether it is "good" music. Selecting a choral work with "good" as the criteria is problematic because the term "good" is not only an indication of an aesthetic choice but has also been considered a euphemism for elite classical music. Most established leaders of choirs did not receive a music education that included a balanced variety of choral composers; thus, there is no way to judge the quality of work that a musician does not know exists as it was not listed among the "great works" taught to them. An additional consideration is that composers historically marginalized for their gender did not receive equal training nor the same inspiration through representation as their males counterparts. On the other hand, as a conductor who identifies as a woman, I can deeply relate to the second camp preferring to be perceived as a composer first and only. But the current reality is that there is a lack of gender diversity in the composers, arrangers, and lyricists being represented in choral programs.

Based on a research examining the trends of music performed at High School All-State and College-Level choral performances from 2014-2019 in the Unites States determined that 80.1% of the songs performed were by male composers (11.6% by women, 0% by non-binary, and 7.8% by anonymous). These numbers could be reflective of the fact that many choir leaders took choral literature classes that did not reference gender parity or even include the learning of works by composers other than male. These percentages could also be an indication of lack of visibility and access to the scores of historically excluded composers. We recognize it was challenging in the past to locate and find repertoire (and recordings) by a diverse set of composers; however, that is no longer the case. The resources listed below represent many of the tools available for free to explore and access the music thatchoir directors may not have learned previously due to the composer's gender. My inclusion of music composed by women and non-binary composers is an intentional practice that I will continue until the time comes when inclusion and diversity in choir programs becomes the norm. These resources are a step in changing the narrative in choral music to reflect gender balanced programming.

Side note: Gender balanced programing is not to be confused with presenting one full concert a year of music by a marginalized group. Although a well-intentioned pursuit, the effort can be perceived as tokenism.

Historical Options:

A Modern Reveal: Songs and Stories of Women Composers

An online resource dedicated to promoting the vocal works and stories of historical female composers who have been overlooked for centuries (particularly historical composers). Each composer page includes recordings to explore.

Women Composer Database from Orange County Women’s Chorus

This searchable database has over 400 compositions by women composers listed.

Music Theory Examples by Women

An excellent resource for using music composed by women to explain music theory concepts.

Artemisia Editions

Publisher dedicated to music from the Italian convents of the 16th and 17th centuries. Most of the music was scored for SATB voicing and the website includes insight as to how the nuns sang the bass part.

General Exploring Resources:

Donne: The Big List of Women Composers

Phenomenal. This list features more than 5,000 women composers from pre-medieval to 21st century singer-songwriters. You can filter your search to choral music and by era. When you access the composer’s page, be sure to click the “External Reference” button as it will send you to info on the composer or the composer’s website. This list would be ultimate resource if recording examples were included for each composer.

Empowering Silenced Voices Database (compiled by Chorosynthesis Singers)

You can search by social conscious themes to find options.

Institute for Composer Diversity – Choral Database

This project has the potential to be that searchable database we are seeking, but it appears to still in the building process, but it almost 200 songs by women composers (you can search by a number of gender marginalized composers).

Choral Public Domain Library

You can narrow the search by women composers by clicking the link. CPDL is free!

Arkiv Frau und Musik

An extensive spreadsheet of choral compositions by women composers from across the globe.

Canadian Women Composers

An extensive list of composers in Canada including a playlist and repertoire collection.

Major Choral Works by Women

A google doc with lists of major works

So You Want to Sing Music by Women Composers: A Guide for Performers

This resource is located on the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and it is comprehensive with numerous chapters that host many links to explore the music, a chapter per genre which includes one for choral music as well as the historical and contemporary challenges of performing the music.

Boulanger Initiative Database

This open-access Women and Gender Marginalized Composers Repertoire Database is launching March 13, 2023. Boulanger Initiative advocates for women and all gender marginalized composers. We foster inclusivity and representation to expand and enrich the collective understanding of what music is, has been, and can be. We promote music composed by women through performance, education, research, consulting, and commissions.

Treble Choir Resources:

Repertoire Lists of Women Composers for Treble Choirs (as performed by Elektra Women’s Choir)

This list is an incredible resource of women composers, including many Canadian based composers.

Repertoire List from Vox Femina Los Angeles

This list has a balanced offering of repertoire, with a dedication to women presenting composers.

Musica Secreta

This ensemble has shared several obscure and underperformed early repertoire.

Annotated Dissertation by Dr. Shelbie Wahl: Choral Works for Women’s Voices Composed and Texted by Women

A comprehensive resource as there is considerable information included on each work.

Sacred Music Resources:

Multitude of Voyces: Sacred Music by Women Composers

Published three anthology volumes of music by women composers (historical and living) to be used in a church setting. The website offers perusal scores and listening links to most of the repertoire.

Amplify Female Composers Project

The website has recordings of music composed by women for every day in Advent and Stations of the Cross. A great resource for church musicians.

Sarah MacDonald Choral Series

A new and most excellent resource with many incredible composers.

A Great Host of Composers: Women Composer Database

This site has a spreadsheet with a repertoire suggestion for each Sunday in the lectionary for Year B and C (church musicians – this incredible site is for you!)

Publishers:

Hildegard Publishing Company

A publisher dedicated to the works of women composers.

Kassia Choral Series (under Bank Musics Publications)

A choral series highlighting women composers.

Treble Clef Music Press

A fantastic resource of music by historical composers, but also historical repertoire specifically composed for soprano/alto voices.

See-a-Dot Music Publishing

The publisher has a wonderfully diverse set of composers to explore.

MusicSpoke

An artist-owned sheet music distribution. It is an excellent resource for exploring the works of living women-presenting composers.

Cypress Music Press

This publisher has a listing of all the women identifying composers they publish.

Dulcamara Press

Beautiful editions of rare and difficult-to-find music for the practical modern performer.

Passion for music by underrepresented composers from all historical eras, new music by living composers, and early music.

Commission a Living Composer:

Approach a composer to write a work or collaborate on the creation of a work for one of the ensembles you direct. To reduce the cost of commissioning, you can enter into a commission consortium with other directors/ensembles.

Creating Lists of Composers:

Here is a list of some of the incredible composers whose work I have programmed (either already performed in the past few years or scheduled to perform this year) with a link to their repertoire online or website (*indicates composers we have commissioned). I have included the ones I have programmed to show that it is possible to incorporate diverse repertoire into our programs. A recording has been included for a few of the examples recorded by one of community ensembles or Voices of Concinnity. Also included is a list of composers whose works are on my list for future programming:

Historical Works Programmed:

Vittoria Aleotti (ca.1570-1646)

Caterina Assandra (c.1590-c.1618)

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)

Francesca Caccini (1587-1646) - Recording: "Aure volanti"

Maddelena Casulana (1544-1590) - Recording: "Morir non può mio cuore"

Sulpitia Cesis (1577-after 1619)

Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-1677)

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)

Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704)

Clara Schumann (1819-1896)

Lucrezia Vizzana (1590-1662)