Feminine Fusion

October 9, 2016: Women Inspiring Women

by Diane Jones

October 4, 2016

Rachel Barton Pine & Maud Powell

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”  – Edith Wharton

Inspiration comes in many forms and from many directions.  On this episode of Feminine Fusion, we’ll look at Women Inspiring Women. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine found inspiration in the life and work of Maud Powell, who made over 100 recordings for the Celebrity Artist Series of the Victor Talking Machine Company, between 1904 and 1919.  The members of the Cassatt String Quartet chose to name themselves after artist Mary Cassatt, who personified the “New Woman” of the 19th century – educated, knowledgeable, and socially active.  And composer Penka Kouneva, who composed a modern tone poem “The Woman Astronaut” to honor the increase of women in the space program.  (In 2013, NASA hired 8 new astronauts – 4 men, and 4 women.)

(Here is the link to Rachel Barton Pine’s article about her inspiration from Maud Powell in the January 2014 issue of Strad Magazine.)

“Women Inspiring Women”

Jules Massenet:  Meditation (from Thais)
Maud Powell, violin; George Falkenstein, piano
“Powell:  The Complete Recordings (1904-1917)”
Naxos 8.110993

Amy Cheney Beach:  Romance for Violin & Piano (1893)
Rachel Barton Pine, violin; Mattheew Hagle, piano
“American Virtuosa: Tribute to Maud Powell”
Cedille 97

Daniel S. Godfrey:  Intermedio
The Cassatt String Quartet
“Cassatt”
CRI 671

Penka Kouneva:  The Woman Astronaut
The Hollywood Studio Symphony, Eimear Noone, conductor
“The Woman Astronaut”
Varese Sarabande 302 067 349 8

Run time:  58:33

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.