by Jarrett Hoffman
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal…” That quote comes not from the Declaration of Independence, but from the Declaration of Sentiments, the manifesto that came out of the Seneca Falls Convention of July 19-20, 1848 — the country’s first convention for women’s rights, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott (above).
The United Nations outlines the fascinating and complex history of International Women’s Day, from that American milestone through the first National Women’s Day (1909, New York City, organized by the Socialist Party of America) and several events in Europe, including the strike for “Bread and Peace” by Russian women on the last Sunday in February of 1917 — March 8 in the Gregorian calendar.
In 1975, the U.N. began celebrating that date as International Women’s Day. This year, the organization has chosen the theme of “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” The reasoning behind that choice is both inspiring and sobering:
Women stand at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic. The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens that women carry.
A separate article from the U.N. states that women “have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic — from being pushed into poverty, to losing jobs as the informal economy shrinks, to an alarming spike in domestic violence and the unpaid care burden.”
One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been the time and space for society to reflect on and combat systemic racism with renewed vigor. Perhaps in that same way, some good will come of this time in the fight against systemic sexism, including in classical music.
On this day, it’s important not just to consider the challenges still ahead, but also to take the time to simply celebrate women. On that note, below are a few events being held today that are centered around women composers.
ON THE WEB TODAY:
At 6:30 pm, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents the latest edition of its “Composers in Focus” series. This one highlights Jessie Montgomery, who will talk with violinist Benjamin Beilman about motivation, influences, inspiration, and her Duo for Violin and Cello, which she describes as an “ode to friendship.” Beilman and cellist Nicholas Canellakis perform the piece, which was newly recorded this season. It’s free, and you can register here (available on-demand for one week).
And at 8:00 pm, pianist Michael Lu will present an “International Women’s Day Mini-Concert” of music by six women from four centuries and four continents. The program includes Juliane Reichardt’s Sonata in G, Emahoy Tegué-Maryam Guèbrou’s Golgotha, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s “März” from Das Jahr, Jennifer Higdon’s Notes of Gratitude, Florence Beatrice Price’s “Remembrance” and “Cotton Dance” from Fantasie nègre no. 4 (final version from 1932), and Teresa Carreño’s Highland. Click here at start time. It’s free, with a post-concert Q&A session by donation. (90% of proceeds go to the Emahoy Tsege Mariam Music Foundation and the Boulanger Initiative.)
Something else that might be of interest is NPR’s Tiny Desk Playlist celebrating women across the globe. It consists of archived performances by pipa virtuoso Wu Man, singer-rapper-songwriter Lous and The Yakuza, R&B duo Chloe x Halle, jazz singer Daymé Arocena, and singer-songwriter Mitski.
See our Diary entry from March 1 for more events celebrating Women’s History Month.