Feminine Fusion

Dec 1-7, 2018: Blow Your Own Horn

by Diane Jones

December 1, 2018

tenThing

“Great musicians are great musicians, whether they are playing a trombone or an electric guitar or a xylophone.”  – Chris Stapleton

There are longstanding stereotypes for so-called masculine versus feminine instruments. In the 1904 edition of Musical Standard, Gustave Kerker notes that quote – “Women cannot possibly play brass instruments and look pretty, and why should they spoil their good looks?”  Fortunately, we are finally, albeit slowly, moving away from those biases.  Today, we are going to hear performances by some of the talented women who have ignored the stereotypes and are blowing their own horns.

Blow Your Own Horn

Jean Sibelius:  Solitude (from Belshazzar’s Feast, Op. 51)
Genghis Barbie
“Amp It Up”
CD Baby

Jan Koetsier:  Brass Symphony, Op. 80
tenThing
“10”
Warner Classics

George Gershwin, arr. by Velvet Brown:  Summertime Fantasy
Stiletto Brass Quintet
“Stiletto Brass quintet with Doc Severinsen”
CD Baby

Robert Elhai: Water Awakening
Rebecca Cherian, trombone; Rodrigo Ojeda, piano
“Water Awakening”
RBC 1001

Michael Daugherty: Reflections on the Mississippi for Tuba & Orchestra
Carol Jantsch, tuba
Albany Symphony Orchestra; David Alan Miller, conductor
“Michael Daugherty: Dreamachine; Trail of Tears; Reflections on the Mississippi”
Naxos 8559807

Run time:  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.