It wasn't until the last third of the 20th century that women took their place in serious music, a field historically dominated by men. Felix Mendelssohn's sister Fanny composed quite a bit of music, but it was only heard in private settings since it wasn't considered "proper" for a woman to compose.
With a few exceptions, women in music had a challenging time proving their worth and ability. Some simply composed music knowing it would never be heard. Others persevered, and had limited success in getting their music published and performed. Here's a fabulous website devoted to women composers - take a look!
We'll examine some of these composers during the month of March, ranging from the 10th century's Abbess Hildegard von Bingen to the 20th century's Ellen Taafe Zwilich and Joan Tower. Join us!