“Feminine Fusion” is a weekly radio program that highlights the influence of women in classical music. These are the women throughout history and into the present day who create, perform, and inspire. Composer/announcer Diane Jones of WCNY-FM in Syracuse, NY is your host, and every week showcases some of these remarkable women.
Women are the central, unifying focus of this series. It is important to note, however, that their influence is broad-ranging, crossing the boundaries of culture, race, and gender. Who can know what might have happened to the likes of Aaron Copland, Donald Byrd, or Quincy Jones had they not studied with Nadia Boulanger?
“Had you asked me 10 years ago if I would have introduced a program focused on women in music, I would have said ‘no.’ Growing up in a houseful of brothers, I was always treated as their equal,” says Jones. “But there is still gender bias in the music world. I am anxious for the time when we no longer separate composers from women composers, or conductors from women conductors.”
Some of the individuals highlighted in this program entered the world of the arts knowing they faced opposition, and gathered their strength to face it head on. Others simply took to their chosen path, often unaware of the impact their actions would have. In every case, however, they have touched hearts and souls with their art.
Diane Jones
Diane Jones is the host of Feminine Fusion, aired every week on WCNY-FM. An active composer, she has received commissions from nationally and internationally-recognized musicians and ensembles, as well as completing 5 residencies in Syracuse area schools, introducing young musicians to composition. Diane performs regularly with Samba Laranja and the Central New York Flute Choir, and her music has been featured on two SAMMY-award winning CDs. Follow Diane on Twitter (@ComposerJones) and Facebook (here or here) for more about her programming and her music.
| Air Date | Program Title | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 - 20 | Voices Raised, Part 6 | Performances from women's choirs around the world | |
| June 21 - 28 | Strung Along, Part 4 | Performances from women playing strings | |
| June 29 - July 5 | Independence Day | Celebrating US history and achievements | |
| July 6 - 12 | A Little Romance | Works by women from the Romantic era | |
| July 13 - 19 | Patchwork Quilt, Part XLII | No special theme, just wonderful works and performances by women | |
| July 20 - 26 | One Life: Ellen Taaffe Zwillich | A look at the life and music of Ellen Taaffe Zwillich, the first woman to with the Pulitzer Prize in Music | |
| July 27 - Aug 2 | Strings and Things | Women's chamber music featuring strings and...? | |
| Aug 3 - 9 | Taking the Lead | Women at the podium leading the orchestra | |
| Aug 10 - 16 | Always a Classic | Who were the women writing in Haydn and Mozart's time? | |
| Aug 17 - 23 | O, Canada, Part 3 | Let's travel north to hear from women composing and performing in Canada | |
| Aug 24 - 30 | Season 8 Wrap-up | A look back at what we've heard in Season 8 of Feminine Fusion! |
December 21, 2024
“So the shortest day came, and the year died, And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world Came people singing, dancing, To drive the dark away.” – Susan Cooper, “The Shortest Day” There’s something special about the Winter Solstice – the shortest day, the longest night. It has been a constant since the world was new. This episode, music inspired by the Solstice. Winter Solstice Samuel Howley: Winter Solstice Ada Witczyk, violin “New Baroque” First Hand Recordings 160D Theresa Martin: Solstice Maria du Toit, clarinet; Vera Kooper, piano “She/Her” Channel Classics 47024 Elizabeth Raum: Northern Lights Jaye Marsh, flute; Heidi Elise Bearcroft, harp; Andrew Morris, percussion “Flute in the Wild” Centrediscs 28921 Thea Musgrave: Songs for a Winter’s Evening Lisa Milne, soprano BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Osmo Vänskä, conductor “Turbulent Landscapes” NMC 153 Run time: 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical […] Read More
December 14, 2024
“The only thing better than singing is more singing.” – Ella Fitzgerald The human voice has the power to move us in so many ways. When many voices sing together, they create harmonies that are impossible alone. And when a group of women’s voices join in song, the experience can be almost magical. Some ensembles sing to express emotion, celebrate faith, or promote social change. This week, women’s voices raised together in song. Sing Together, Part 2 Guillame DuFay: Rite Majorem Jacobum Canamus Lorelei Ensemble “Impermanence” Sono Luminus 92226 Traditional: Invitatory Surrexit Dominus Benedictine Nuns of Notre Dame “Voices: Chant from Avignon” Decca Records Liisa Matevinen: Lemmen Nosto (Evoking Love) Philomela Female Choir “Mieli” Alba Tella Turkka: Minne kauneus katosi (Where did the beauty disappear?) Philomela Female Choir “Mieli” Alba Peteris Vasks: The Tomtit’s Message Dzintars: The Latvian Women’s Choir “Songs of Amber” Rykodisc Traditional: The Little Cuckoo Bird Vesnivka Choir “Vesnivka Choir” Vesnivka.com Traditional […] Read More
December 7, 2024
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato With Marin Alsop’s tenure at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ending, we are left without a single woman serving as Music Director among the top 25 largest ensembles in the US. It is not a lack of talent, however, and this week we hear from several amazing women who have taken their place on the conductor’s podium. On the Podium, Part 3 Paul Desenne: Verano: Cumbión Tostao, from 2 Seasons of the Caribbean Tropics Lina González-Granados, conductor Unitas Ensemble; Cuarteto Latinoamericano “Estaciones” Urtext 279 Carl Nielsen: Flute Concerto Anna Skryleva, conductor Odense Symphony Orchestra; Josephine Olech, flute “Concertos by Carl Nielsen, Theodoor Verhey, and Jean Francaix” Orchid Classics 100169 Sir Edward Elgar: Sospiri Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, conductor Birmingham Symphony Orchestra “The […] Read More
November 30, 2024
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Garvey Musicology – the study of music. A simple definition for a vast subject. Whether approaching it as performance practice, cultural musicology, or any other of a myriad of avenues, the four women we’ll meet in this episode are definitely making their mark. “Songcatchers, Part 2” Traditional: Barbara Allen Edward Flower & Joel Brown, guitars “Chords & Thyme: English Folksongs for Guitar” Dorian 90204 Josquin des Pres: Ave Maria, gratia plena The Hilliard Ensemble “Codex Specialnik” ECM New Series 1504 Byttering: En Katerine solennia Pomerium; Alexander Blachly, conductor “Musical Book of Hours” DG Archiv 4575862 Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Opus 125 (Mvt. I) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Leonard Bernstein, conductor “Beethoven: Symphony No. 9” D. Grammophon 423481 Irving Berlin: Steppin’ Out With My Baby (arr. […] Read More
November 23, 2024
“Percussion is physical, as most instruments are. The body must function well in order to play the instruments well.” – Evelyn Glennie There are certain characteristics that identify an instrument as a piano – a keyboard, pedals, etc. Or a flute. But what is “percussion?” This episode shares works and performances from women specializing on the marimba. “Sticks and Stones, Part 4” J.S. Bach: Prelude & Fugue No. 1 from “The Well Tempered Clavier, Book I” Beverley Johnston, marimba “Marimbach” CBC 1033 John Thrower: Aurora borealis Katarzyna Myćka, marimba Franz Bach, Thomas Keltch, Michael Schuller – percussion “Marimba Dance” Audite 97462 Marta Ptaszynska: Graffito Sun-Min Shim, marimba “Graffito” Animato 6110 Toru Takemitsu: Raintree Daniella Ganeva, marimba “50 Minimalist Classics” Signum Tim Brady: Circling Marie-Josée Simard, marimba Lise Daoust, flute “Laube Enchantée” Atma Classique 22115 Run time: 58:30 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical […] Read More
November 16, 2024
“It has happened more than once that a composition has come to me, ready-made as it were, between the demands of other work” – Mrs. H.H.A. (Amy) Beach On this episode of Feminine Fusion, we’ll learn about the remarkable Amy Beach – her life, and her works from orchestra to opera. “One Life: Amy Cheney Beach” (All works composed by Amy Beach) Graduale from Mass in E-flat Major Stow Festival Orchestra and Chorus; Barbara Jones, director “Grand Mass in E-flat Major” Albany 179 Symphony in E Minor, “Gaelic” Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Karl Kruger, conductor “William Grant Still/Amy Beach” Library of Congress 105 Theme and Variations for Flute and String Quartet (excerpts) Chamber Music Palm Beach “Prisms” Klavier 11142 “Ladies and Gentlemen” from Cabildo New York Concert Singers; Ransom Wilson, conductor “Cabildo, An Opera Premiere and Six Short Pieces” Delos 3170 Run time: 58:30 Feminine Fusion highlights the […] Read More
November 9, 2024
“Music is the shorthand of emotion.” – Leo Tolstoy Let’s put together another Patchwork Quilt episode! “Patchwork Quilt, Part XLIV” Lauren Bydalek: Pieces of My Heart Choral Chameleon; Vince Peterson, conductor “Changing” Navona 6686 Barbara Harbach: Symphony No. 14 “Pioneer Women” London Philharmonic Orchestra; David Angus, conductor “Barbara Harbach: Orchestral Music VIII” MSR Classics 1816 Mel Bonis: Femmes de Legende (excerpts) Anna Shelest, piano “Donna Voce, Volume 2: Women of Legend” Sorel Classics Sara Jacovino: A Garden Story Calliope Brass “Second Nature” Navona 6672 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. Produced in the studios at WCNY-FM. Read More
November 2, 2024
“Music, in performance, is a type of sculpture. The air in the performance is sculpted into something.” – Frank Zappa There is something special and intimate about the music performed by duos and trios. This week’s episode is devoted to these small ensembles. “Twos and Threes, Part 4” Nino Rota: Improvviso Lynn Kuo, violin & Marianna Humetska, piano “Love: Innocence, Passion, Obsession” Independent Karl Kohn: Cantilena II Marimolin “Marimolin: Phantasmata” GM Records 2048 Eric N. Robertson: The Rings (excerpts) Suzanne Schulman, flute & Erica Goodman, harp “Being Golden” Wolftone Media 22061 Maddalena Lomardini Sirmen: Trio in B-flat Major The Vivaldi Project “Discovering the Classical String Trio, Vol. 4” MSR Classics 1624 Miriam Hyde: String Trio Hague String Trio “Celebrating Women!” Cobra Records 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, […] Read More
October 26, 2024
“In music the passions enjoy themselves.” – Friedrich Nietzsche We continue our stroll through the string section with performances from the cello, violone, and double bass. “Low Strung, Part 6” Giovanni Bottesini: Elegy No. 1 Mikyung Sung, double bass Jaemin Shin, piano “The Colburn Sessions” Modus Vivendi Media Mary Howe: Ballade Fantasque Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello Pi-Ju Chiang, piano “Between Us: Music for Two by Mary Howe” Navona 6432 Josef Myslivecek: Cello Concerto Ofra Harnoy, cello I Solisti Veneti; Claudio Scimone, conductor “Cello Concertos” RCA 61228 Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf: Duetto for viola and violone Heather Miller Lardin, violone Daniel Elyar, viola “Night Music” Avie 2123 Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im spiegel Christine Hoock, double bass Barbara Nussbaum, piano “Le Phénix” Neos 21301 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. […] Read More
October 19, 2024
“Music must be enjoyed without prejudice.” – Isabelle Faust For the next 2 weeks, music for strings! This week, performances from the high strings – violinists and violists. Each of these women brings incredible talent to their performances. “High Strung, Part 6” Edith L. Winn: From the Carolina Hills, Op. 15 (excerpts) Maureen Yuen, violin Eric Ruple, piano “Music from VIOLIN MUSIC BY WOMEN: A Graded Anthology, Volumes 1 & 2” Albany 1951 Johannes Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78 (excerpts) Natalia van der Mersch, violin Olivier Roberti, piano “Brahms Violin Sonatas” Ars Produktion Chen Yihan: EHOHE Julia Glenn, baroque violin “Ink Traces” Navona 6670 Richard Crosby: Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 10 Sila Darville, viola Richard Crosby, piano “By the Waters of Memory” Navona 6598 Rebecca Clarke: Viola Sonata Vinciane Béranger, viola; Dana Ciocarlie, piano “Rebecca Clarke Works for Viola: Aparté 289 58:29 […] Read More
