Women in Music

 

The works listed in this guide are limited to those which cover women exclusively, and include classical, popular and jazz musicians. There are many general sources which include women musicians, and these should be consulted in combination with these works.

The bibliography is divided into 3 sections: 1) Bibliography/Biography; 2) Discography; 3) General Reading. The items listed in the first 2 sections are considered to be reference material and may be consulted in the non-circulating reference collection of the Music Library. The books listed in the 3rd section on general reading are in the Music Stacks and may be checked out.

For periodical or journal articles on women in music, consult the Music Index (ML 118 .M84 MUSIC REF).

BIBLIOGRAPHY/BIOGRAPHY

Block, Adrienne Fried. Women in American Music : A Bibliography of Music and Literature. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1979.
ML128.W7 B6 MUSIC REF

A bibliography of the music and literature of American women musicians. The main body of the work is arranged in broad chronological groups. Within each group are sections covering literature about women in music and related arts, women as patrons, educators and performers, and the music itself. The main listing is preceded by shorter sections on reference materials, collected works and historical studies. Includes substantial author/composer index to music.

Boenke, Heidi M. Flute Music by Women Composers : An Annotated Catalog. New York: Greenwood, 1988.
ML128.F7 B6 1988 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive catalog of music by women composers for solo flute or flute in ensemble. Includes compositions from over 40 countries and covering three centuries. Thoroughness of entries and annotations dependent on information available. Main listing alphabetical by composer. Includes title and instrumentation indexes.

Claghorn, Charles Eugene. Women Composers & Hymnists : A Concise Biographical Dictionary. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1984.
BV325.C58 1984 MUSIC REF

A biographical dictionary of women hymnists and composers of church music, covering from the twelfth century to the present. Contains over 750 entries, with emphasis on American and English women. Includes index by country.

Cohen, Aaron I. International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. 2 vols. 2nd ed., rev. and enl. New York: Bowker, 1987.
ML105.C7 1987 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive coverage of women composers of all periods and countries, 6195 entries in all. In addition to the main alphabetical listing, which includes biographical information and works lists, 14 separate appendices offer valuable supplementary information. Also includes extensive discography.

Contemporary Concert Music by Women : A Directory of the Composers and Their Works. Comp. and ed. by Judith Lang Zaimont and Karen Famera. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1981.
ML105.Z34 MUSIC REF

Contains brief biographical sketches of around 80 contemporary women composers, mostly American, including photographs of most. In separate "List of Music" arranged by genre or medium of performance, subarranged alphabetically by composer/title, original works by members of the International League of Women Composers. The list includes information on instrumentation, author of text, composition date, duration, level of difficulty, and source of availability. Prize winning and recorded works are so indicated. Includes a discography, address lists of publishers, archives, composers, and record companies. Complete index.

Ericson, Margaret. Women and music : a selective annotated bibliography on women and gender issues in music, 1987-1992. New York : G.K. Hall, 1996.
ML128.W7 E75 1996 MUSIC REF

International in scope, the bibliography includes books, articles, theses, conference papers, newspaper articles, as well as score and recording anthologies. Topical coverage is broad, including both Western and non-Western material, art music as well as jazz and popular music.

Fuller, Sophie. The Pandora guide to women composers : Britain and the United States 1629-present. San Francisco : Pandora, 1994.
ML390.F94x 1994 MUSIC REF

Contains biographical essay on about 100 British and American composers. The essays are fairly substantial, but contain no listing of compositions.

Grattan, Virginia L. American women songwriters : a biographical dictionary. Westport CT : Greenwood Press, 1993.
ML106.U3 G73 1993 MUSIC REF

Contains biographical sketches of women writers of popular song. Arranged according to the style of music, such as pop, rock, motion pictures, musicals, blues, jazz, country, etc. Each chapter is introduced by a brief historical background on the type of music.

Hixon, Donald L. Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. 2nd ed. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1975.
ML105.H6 1993 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive index to biographical information on women musicians, covering all periods and countries. The main section is alphabetical by name, including place and date of birth and death, field of activity, and the biographical sources. Includes extensive listing by specialization.

Jackson, Barbara Garvey. Say can you deny me : a guide to surviving music by women from the 16th through the 18th centuries. Fayetteville, AR : University of Arkansas Press, 1994.
ML128.W7 J3 1994 MUSIC REF

A guide to music by women of the renaissance, baroque, and classical periods of music. Includes the locations of original copies, as well as microfilms, photocopies, and published editions. Covers material in private collections as well as institutions.

Jezic, Diane. Women Composers : The Lost Tradition Found. New York: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 1988.
ML390.J37 1988 MUSIC STACKS

A guide to the lives and works of 25 women composers of Western art music from the eleventh century to the present. Substantial biographical information, musical analysis, and listing of works.

Johnson, Rose-Marie. Violin Music by Women Composers : A Bio-Bibliographical Guide. New York: Greenwood, 1989.
ML128.W7 J63 1989 MUSIC REF

A bibliography of solo recital, concerto and chamber music literature by women, from the baroque to the 20th century. The arrangement is based on an index of the composers referring the user to the 3 main sections of the book: Biographies, Music, and Discography. The Biographies section is divided into five eras, the Music section organized by 12 genre categories, and the Discography alphabetically by composer.

KOM : Komponistinnen im Musikverlag : Katalog lieferbarer Musikalien. Kassel : Furore, 1996.
ML128.W7 K665x 1996 MUSIC REF

A catalog of available published music by women composers. Includes both instrumental a nd vocal music. Arranged by medium of performance.

Laurence, Anya. Women of Notes : 1000 Women Composers Born before 1900. New York: R. Rosen Press, 1978.
ML105.L28 MUSIC REF

A biographical listing of women composers born before 1900. Main section is divided by country with emphasis on American and European composer. Each entry contains brief biographical information, and many entries mention some compositions. Includes brief preliminary chapter on a variety of subjects. Appendix A is a miscellaneous list of women performers, teachers, writers, etc. Includes discography and name index.

LePage, Jane Weiner. Women Composers, Conductors, and Musicians of the Twentieth Century. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1980- .
ML82.L46 MUSIC REF

A three volume work containing fairly substantial biographies of 20th century women composers, conductors and musicians, primarily American. Vol. 1 contains 17 biographies, Vol. 2 adds 17 more, and Vol. 3 contains 18. Bibliographies and discographies included for each entry.

MacAuslan, Janna. Guitar music by women composers : an annotated catalog. Westport, CT : Greenwood Press, 1997.
ML128.G8 M33 1997 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive catalog of music for solo guitar and guitar with other instruments. The first section is a listing of compositions by instrumentation, with some information about length, level of difficulty, and publisher. The second section contains brief composer biographies, with references to additional sources.

Meggett, Joan M. Keyboard Music by Women Composers : A Catalog and Bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1981.
ML128.H35 M43 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive catalog of works by and about 290 women composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The main body of the volume lists composers alphabetically and includes brief biographical information, major fields of composition, all keyboard music composed, selected writings, and a bibliography of books and articles about the composer. It also contains an extensive list of sources, and 5 appendixes, including a supplementary listing and discography. This work includes compositions for harpsichord and organ, as well as the piano.

New Grove dictionary of women composers. London : Macmillan, 1994.
ML105.N38x 1994 MUSIC REF

A small volume, but manages to include entries for nearly 900 women composers, from ancient times to the present. The entries are usually quite short, but contain valuable lists of works. Generously illustrated.

Olivier, Antje. Komponistinnen von A-Z. Dusseldorf: Tokkata, 1988.
ML105.O45 1988 MUSIC REF

A biographical dictionary of women composers covering all periods and countries. Biographies are brief but works lists very thorough. In German.

Organ and Harpsichord Music by Women Composers : An Annotated Catalog. Comp. by Adel Heinrich. New York: Greenwood, 1991.
ML128.O6 O73 1991 MUSIC REF

An international listing of music for organ and harpsichord, both solo and in ensemble. The work is divided into several sections including an alphabetical listing of the works by composer, separate instrumentation and title indexes, composers biographies, and chronological listing by country.

Rogal, Samuel J. Sisters of Sacred Song : A Selected Listing of Women Hymnodists in Great Britain and America. New York: Garland, 1981.
BV325.R63 MUSIC REF

An alphabetical listing of hymnodists. Includes appendices which classify by nationality and denominational affiliation. Also lists hymn collections and titles of hymns alphabetically.

Skowronski, JoAnn. Women in American Music : A Bibliography. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1978.
ML128.W7 S6 MUSIC REF

A bibliography of literature on women in American music, covering all areas of music from 1776 to 1975. Divided into four chronological sections, the largest of which covers 1939 to 1976. Entries include bibliographic citations, and most are annotated. Includes name index.

Stern, Susan. Women Composers : A Handbook. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1978.
ML105.S7 MUSIC REF

A list of women composers citing biographical sources. Geographic coverage not comprehensive. Time period covers 16th century to present. Main listing alphabetical by composer, including dates, major areas of composition, and citation of source. Includes a list of sources, a supplementary list of composers, and bibliography.

Stewart-Green, Miriam. Women Composers : A Checklist of Works for the Solo Voice. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1980.
ML128.V7 S83 MUSIC REF

A listing of 3746 women composers from 72 countries, dating from as early as 600 BC. There are three General Lists which give the composers' names, nationality and dates. List I gives composers and song titles, List II gives song composers but no titles, and List III gives composers believed to have written songs. There are also separate sections for operas, cantatas, oratorios, masses, cycles, dramatic scenes, and with instruments other than piano. Includes a bibliography and index.

Unterbrink, Mary. Jazz Women at the Keyboard. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1983.
ML397.U57 1983 MUSIC REF

Contains biographical accounts, in varying lengths, of women jazz pianists. Not arranged in dictionary form, but rather by geographical area. Includes background information on various styles and areas of activity. Suffers from lack of separate index to featured biographies, but does include complete name index.

Walker-Hill, Helen. Piano Music by Black Women Composers : A Catalog of Solo and Ensemble Works. New York: Greenwood, 1992.
ML128.P3 W3 1992 MUSIC REF

A catalog of the non-vocal piano music of over 50 Black women composers. Each composer is given a brief biographical sketch, followed by an annotated listing of the works. The annotations are descriptive and include level of difficulty. Several useful appendices including a selected discography.

Women's Studies/Women's Status. Boulder, CO: College Music Society, 1988.
ML82.W69 1988 MUSIC REF

The fifth report of the College Music Society of research generated by the Committee on the Status of Women in Music. Contains an annotated bibliography of recent writings, a statistical report on the status of women in college music, and a list of selected films and videos featuring women in music.

DISCOGRAPHIES

Cohen, Aaron I. International Discography of Women Composers. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1984.
ML156.4.W6 C6 1984 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive discography of the classical/art music of women composers. The main arrangement is alphabetical by composer, listing all recordings by title and record label, including performer(s) where possible. Following this section is an extensive listing of record labels and companies, a useful listing of composers by country, and by instrument and musical form. Also includes an index by title. The work excludes cassettes and reel tapes.

Frasier, Jane. Women Composers: A Discography. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1983.
ML156.4.W6 F7 1983 MUSIC REF

A listing of recorded compositions of 337 women composers. The main listing is alphabetical by composer, with the title of the work, the name of the record company and the record number(s). A second major arrangement is by genre. It is necessary to refer back to the main listing for recording information. Includes a record company index, a title index, and a bibliography.

Laird, Ross. Moanin' low : a discography of female popular vocal recordings, 1920-1933. Westport, CT : Greenwood Press, 1996.
ML156.4.W6 L35 1996 MUSIC REF

A comprehensive listing of all known recordings of the time.

Leder, Jan. Women in Jazz: A Discography of Instrumental Music, 1913-1968. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1985.
ML156.4.J3 L44 1985 MUSIC REF

An attempt at a comprehensive listing of recordings made by women jazz instrumentalists, covering the period of 1913 to 1968. Includes 250 players, of which 120 are pianists. The main listing is alphabetical by performer, with recordings listed chronologically. A shorter second section is a chronological listing of recordings with two or more women players. Includes name index.

GENERAL READING

Ammer, Christine. Unsung: A History of Women in American Music. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1980.
ML82.A45 MUSIC STACKS

A history of the role played by women in American music during the past two hundred years, as instrumentalists, conductors, composers and teachers.

Archer, Robyn. Star is Born. London: Virago, 1986.
ML400.A734 1986 MUSIC STACKS

Biographies of 13 popular women entertainersMarie Lloyd, Bessie Smith, Helen Morgan, Jane Froman, Carmen Miranda, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, Judy Holliday, Judy Garland, Dinah Washington, Marilyn Monroe, Patsy Cline and Janis Joplin.

Bufwack, Mary A. Finding her voice : the saga of women in country music. New York : Crown Publishers, 1993.
ML3524.B83 1993 MUSIC STACKS

A major study of women and country music, from rural folk music through popular Nashville.

Citron, Marcia J. Gender and the musical canon. New York : Cambridge University Press, 1993.
ML3890.C58 1993 MUSIC STACKS

An examination of the practices and attitudes that have led to the exclusion of women composers from the body of performed musical works.

Cultivating music in America : women patrons and activists since 1860. Berkeley, CA : University of California Press, 1997.
ML82.C85 1997 MUSIC STACKS

A collection of essays and vignettes covering a broad range of activities by women in support of music.

Dahl, Linda. Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen. New York: Pantheon Books, 1984.
ML82.D3 1984 MUSIC STACKS

A history of women jazz musicians from the 1890's to the 1980's. Includes chapters on instrumentalists and vocalists, a discography, and individual profiles of 10 women interviewed by the author.

Drinker, Sophie Lewis (Hutchinson). Music and Women: The Story of Women in Their Relation to Music. New York: Coward-McCann, 1948.
ML82.D7 1948 MUSIC STACKS

A study of the music of women, concentrating heavily on primitive and ancient cultures and forward through the middle ages and renaissance. Some chapters devoted to the modern era. Some rather advanced views for the late 1940's.

Gaar, Gillian G. She's a rebel : the history of women in rock & roll. Seattle, WA : Seal Press, 1992.
ML394.G28 1992 MUSIC STACKS

Gourse, Leslie. Madame Jazz : contemporary women instrumentalists. New York : Oxford University Press, 1995.
ML82.G69 1995 MUSIC STACKS

A general overview of the position of women in jazz from the late 1970's to the early 1990's. Includes chapters on selected players by instruments, profiles of four of the most successful players, and an appendix listing women active in the 1980's and early 1990's, primarily in New York.

Green, Lucy. Music, gender, education. New York : Cambridge University Press, 1997.
ML82.G74 1997 MUSIC STACKS

A study of the concept of femininity on music and musical meaning, and gendered musical practices in the contemporary school music classroom.

Green, Mildred Denby. Black Women Composers: A Genesis. Boston: Twayne, 1983.
ML390.G83 1983 MUSIC STACKS

A study of five black women composers (Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Julia Perry, Evelyn Pittman and Lena McLin). Each chapter includes biographical information and analysis of published compositions which represent the composers' styles. First chapter is an overview of women in music. Contains catalog of musical works and discography.

Groh, Jan Bell. Evening the score : women in music and the legacy of Frederique Petrides. Fayetteville : University of Arkansas Press, 1991.
ML82.G76 1991 MUSIC STACKS

A biographical sketch of the conductor, and an annotated reprint of her newsletter "Women in music", published from July 1935 to December 1940.

Halstead, Jill. The woman composer : creativity and the genered politics of musical composition. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate, 1997.
ML82.H35 1997 MUSIC STACKS

A study of factors influencing women and their ability to fulfill their musical potential. British focus.

Handy, D. Antoinette. Black Women in American Bands & Orchestras. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1981.
ML82.H36 MUSIC STACKS

A history of Black women instrumentalists in ensembles in all areas of performance. Begins with an historical overview of the American orchestra, and continues with chapters on orchestra leaders, string, wind, percussion and keyboard players with individual profiles. Generously illustrated and well indexed.

McClary, Susan. Feminine Endings: Music, Gender, and Sexuality. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1991.
ML82.M38 1991 MUSIC STACKS

Mender, Mona. Extraordinary women in support of music. Lanham, MD : Scarecrow Press, 1997.
ML385.M37 1997 MUSIC STACKS

Profiles of ca. 65 women who contributed to the furthering of music in the Western work, from the 5th century B.C. to the present. Grouped by areas of activity, such as patronesses, teachers, administrators, etc.

Music, gender, and culture. Wilhelmshaven : F. Noetzel, 1990.
ML182.M78 1990 MUSIC STACKS

A collection of ethnomusicological studies by women scholars.

Musical Woman. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1984- .
ML182.M8 MUSIC REF

Three volumes of this series have so far been published. Vol. 1 covers 1983, vol. 2 1984-85, and vol. 3 1986-90. Each volume begins with a Gazette which lists performances, festivals, prizes and awards, publications, discographies, etc. Part II, Essays, covers a wide range of subjects on every aspect of women and music. An extremely rich resource.

O'Brien, Lucy. She bop ; the definitive history of women in rock, pop, and soul. New York : Penguin Books, 1996.
ML82.O27 1996 MUSIC STACKS


Placksin, Sally. American Women in Jazz: 1900 to the Present: Their Words, Lives, and Music. New York: Seaview Books, 1982.
ML3508.P58 1982b MUSIC STACKS

A collection of biographical profiles with emphasis on instrumentalists. Includes selective discography.

Rediscovering the muses : women's musical traditions. Boston : Northeastern University Press, 1993.
ML82.R43 1993 MUSIC STACKS

A collection of essays covering a wide range of women's musical activities, both Western and non-Western.

Steward, Sue. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: True Life Stories of Women in Pop. London: Pluto Press, 1984.
ML82.S8 1984 MUSIC STACKS

Primary focus is on British women pop and rock musicians.

Tick, Judith. American Women Composers before 1870. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Research Press, 1983.
ML390.T53 1983 MUSIC STACKS

A study of American women composers and social attitudes toward female musicians before 1870. The repertory found in large collections of sheet music is a basis for the study. Includes many complete examples of music and a lengthy bibliography.

Upton, George Putman. Woman in Music: An Essay. Boston: J.R. Osgood, 1880.
ML82.U72 MUSIC STACKS

This work is not about women as musicians, but rather their influence on eight major male composers. Of particular interest is the opening chapter which reflects the late 19th century view on women as composers.

Women & Music: A History. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991.
ML82.W6 1991 MUSIC STACKS

A collection of substantial essays covering the history of women and music from ancient times to the present. Includes material on popular music and the special roles of women in music. An excellent source.

Women and Music in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Ed. by Ellen Koskoff. New York: Greenwood, 1987.
ML82.W63 1987 MUSIC STACKS

A collection of essays on women, music, and culture, exclusive of Western classical music.

Women in Music: An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present. Ed. by Carol Neuls-Bates. New York: Harper & Row, 1982.
ML82.W65 1982 MUSIC STACKS

The sub-title of this book adequately describes the contents. Contains a broad range of material for general reading.

Women Making Music: The Western Art Tradition, 1150-1950. Ed. by Jane Bowers and Judith Tick. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1986.
ML82.W67 1986 MUSIC STACKS

A collection of 15 scholarly essays on a wide variety of topics.