The Choral Music of Twentieth-Century Women Composers

This book brings to light the choral works of three contemporary British women composers: Elisabeth Lutyens (1906-1983), Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994), and Thea Musgrave (1928- ). Earning solid reputations in Britain through their varying compositional styles, their music has revealed them to be substantial, prolific composers who are representative of major trends in twentieth-century British choral composition. Lutyens, often described as a musical pioneer, incorporates a highly personal and imaginative style in her use of twelve-tone technique, and her departures from the strict practice of serial writing are always highly personal and imaginative. Maconchy describes her own technique as 'impassioned argument,' using compositional tools such as contrapuntal textures in both her instrumental and choral works, resulting in a high degree of chromatic color. Musgrave encompasses many modes of expression, from her early choral works featuring tonal diatonic writing, to a free chromatic style with imprecise tonality at times. Complete with historical perspective, musical examples, and reproductions of choral texts, this resource of important and little known contemporary choral works demonstrates the diverse approaches used by these and other contemporary composers, and contributes to the growing literature on women in music.

By Catherine Roma

Part 1 List of Figures Part 2 List of Musical Examples Part 3 Foreword by Karin Pendle Part 4 Acknowledgments Part 5 Introduction Part 6 Elisabeth Lutyens (1906-1983) Part 7 Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994) Part 8 Thea Musgrave (1928-) Part 9 The Contemporary Period Chapter 10 Appendix A: Lutyens' Proposal for the Composer's Concourse Chapter 11 Appendix B: The Published Choral Compositions of Elisabeth Lutyens in Chronological Order Chapter 12 Appendix C: Withdrawn Choral Works by Elisabeth Lutyens in the British Museum Chapter 13 Appendix D: Text for Requiem for the Living Chapter 14 Appendix E: Text for Excerpta Tractati Logico-Philosophici Chapter 15 Appendix F: The Choral Compositions of Elizabeth Maconchy in Chronological Order Chapter 16 Appendix G: Text for Nocturnal Chapter 17 Appendix H: Text for "Siren's Song" Chapter 18 Appendix I: Text for The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo (Maiden's Song from St. Winefred's Well) Chapter 19 Appendix J: The Choral Compositions of Thea Musgrave in Chronological Order Chapter 20 Appendix K: Text for Rorate Coeli Chapter 21 Appendix L: Text for The Last Twilight Chapter 22 Appendix M: Text for "O caro m'è il sonno" Part 23 Bibliography Part 24 Index Part 25 About the Author