Contributions of Women

This morning is one of our “special focus” liturgies, dedicated to the ‘contributions of women…’

Strictly speaking, gender [just like race and age and sexual orientation] is an inadequate musical descriptor:

· What does female music sound like?
· Can you identify music composed by a gay man?
· How does a piece reflect age? Maturity?

There are, of course, no answers to these patently rhetorical questions. But on a day like today, when the focus is on gender, there are, happily, virtually unlimited choices – and excellent ones at that…

At every point in history, there have been good pieces and bad pieces [and everything in between…] written by men and women. The musical

contributions of women are equal to those of men – irrespective of the fact that Music History is just now catching up with this notion and bringing the work of female composers to light…

Dede Duson was once the organist at St. Philip! She is a quietly effective musical power in this part of the country – responsible for not only the writing and performance of music, but for the underwriting and genesis of a number of important musical organizations, including the Texas Choral Directors’ Association, the Mesquite Arts Center, the Festival-Institute at Round Top and arts organizations in Aspen, CO. She does all this with great humility – mostly under the radar.

This Introit dates from September of 1983 and is dedicated to Eleanor Grant and the St. Philip Choir!

Julian of Norwich, about whose life little is known – even her name is a statement not of identity, but of place…the church of St. Julian in Norwich, to which she was attached – left writings that have had a profound impact on the Christian Church ever since. The phrase which closes Mathias’ anthem: ‘All shall be well…’ is perhaps the most widely known one-liner in Christendom. I love it when a text is so strong that it yanks a composer right out of his or her standard formulas; this musical writing is atypical and unique.

Emma Lou Diemer has a first-rate musical pedigree – Yale, Fulbright Grant study in Belguim, Eastman School of Music D.M.A. – and has spent her cheery, interesting and prolific life in and around Santa Barbara, CA. She is much lauded and decorated and is still at it, full speed, in her early eighties…!

Meredith Stephenson has recently relocated to New Mexico, after having been active in the Atlanta, GA area for many years. This ‘Sanctus’ was written on commission from me for my Folk Music group at Holy Innocents’ Church – a merry little band called ‘HI Spirit.’

-Keith Weber