Overview

Combining new musicology trends, formal musical analysis, and literary feminist recovery work, Leslie Ritchie examines rare poetic, didactic, fictional, and musical texts written by women in late eighteenth-century Britain. She finds instances of and resistance to contemporary perceptions of music as a form of social control in works by Maria Barthélemon, Harriett Abrams, Mary Worgan, Susanna Rowson, Hannah Cowley, and Amelia Opie, among others. Relating women's musical compositions and writings about music to theories of music's function in the formation of female subjectivities during the latter half of the eighteenth century, Ritchie draws on the work of cultural theorists and cultural historians, as well as feminist scholars who have explored the connection between femininity and performance. Whether crafting works consonant with societal ideals of charitable, natural, and national order, or re-imagining their participation in these musical aids to social harmony, women contributed significantly to the formation of British cultural identity. Ritchie's interdisciplinary book will interest scholars working in a range of fields, including gender studies, musicology, eighteenth-century British literature, and cultural studies.

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9780754663331

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Reviews

'Ritchie’s exploration of English women’s music making will interest not only musicologists, but also a broader range of readers interested in cultural studies, feminist criticism, and eighteenth-century studies. Disproving assumptions that women’s participation in music in this period was confined to the domestic sphere, Ritchie shows women musicians performing in venues ranging from the most obviously public, like the London opera and theater stages, to intimate domestic settings. Literary readers will appreciate discovering lyrics by important women poets, while musicians will like the generous provision of musical examples'. Susan Staves, Brandeis University, USA ’... ambitious, rewarding study ... Ritchie ... makes a major contribution to each of the disciplines that informs her study, chiefly musicology, literary studies, eighteenth-century studies, and gender studies ... Ritchie’s clear writing and her lucid explanations of the myths and assumptions that have long governed”and hampered”investigations of women’s participation in eighteenth-century musical worlds would make this book valuable for classroom use.’ NABMSA Newsletter ’By considering not only music but also contributors to musical life outside the bounds of traditional musicology, Ritchie’s book reveals much valuable material, establishing the extent to which the content, production and development of the vocal music of the period depended on women.’ Early Music ’... a valuable book...’ Studies in English Literature ’Ritchie performs that most difficult feat of writing clearly and concisely about complex cultural issues without over-simplication or reductive reading. ...the quality of analysis [...] of both literature and music, is illuminating, rich and vital. This book is much to be recommended to those interested in 18th century culture, particularly as it relates to women and music.’ The Consort ’... the book essentially covers not only women writing

'Ritchie‘s exploration of English women‘s music making will interest not only musicologists, but also a broader range of readers interested in cultural studies, feminist criticism, and eighteenth-century studies. Disproving assumptions that women‘s participation in music in this period was confined to the domestic sphere, Ritchie shows women musicians performing in venues ranging from the most obviously public, like the London opera and theater stages, to intimate domestic settings. Literary readers will appreciate discovering lyrics by important women poets, while musicians will like the generous provision of musical examples'. Susan Staves, Brandeis University, USA ... ambitious, rewarding study ... Ritchie ... makes a major contribution to each of the disciplines that informs her study, chiefly musicology, literary studies, eighteenth-century studies, and gender studies ... Ritchie‘s clear writing and her lucid explanations of the myths and assumptions that have long governed and hampered investigations of women‘s participation in eighteenth-century musical worlds would make this book valuable for classroom use. NABMSA Newsletter By considering not only music but also contributors to musical life outside the bounds of traditional musicology, Ritchie‘s book reveals much valuable material, establishing the extent to which the content, production and development of the vocal music of the period depended on women. Early Music ... a valuable book... Studies in English Literature Ritchie performs that most difficult feat of writing clearly and concisely about complex cultural issues without over-simplication or reductive reading. ...the quality of analysis [...] of both literature and music, is illuminating, rich and vital. This book is much to be recommended to those interested in 18th century culture, particularly as it relates to women and music. The Consort ... the book essentially covers not only women writing

'Ritchie's exploration of English women's music making will interest not only musicologists, but also a broader range of readers interested in cultural studies, feminist criticism, and eighteenth-century studies. Disproving assumptions that women's participation in music in this period was confined to the domestic sphere, Ritchie shows women musicians performing in venues ranging from the most obviously public, like the London opera and theater stages, to intimate domestic settings. Literary readers will appreciate discovering lyrics by important women poets, while musicians will like the generous provision of musical examples'. Susan Staves, Brandeis University, USA '... ambitious, rewarding study ... Ritchie ... makes a major contribution to each of the disciplines that informs her study, chiefly musicology, literary studies, eighteenth-century studies, and gender studies ... Ritchie's clear writing and her lucid explanations of the myths and assumptions that have long governed-and hampered-investigations of women's participation in eighteenth-century musical worlds would make this book valuable for classroom use.' NABMSA Newsletter 'By considering not only music but also contributors to musical life outside the bounds of traditional musicology, Ritchie's book reveals much valuable material, establishing the extent to which the content, production and development of the vocal music of the period depended on women.' Early Music '... a valuable book...' Studies in English Literature 'Ritchie performs that most difficult feat of writing clearly and concisely about complex cultural issues without over-simplication or reductive reading. ...the quality of analysis [...] of both literature and music, is illuminating, rich and vital. This book is much to be recommended to those interested in 18th century culture, particularly as it relates to women and music.' The Consort '... the book essentially covers not only women writing music but also their 'participation in the field of musical production'. It is an outcome that reaches beyond what the title implies to deliver a strong result. ... valuable work ... an examination of works and experiences beyond the established canon can yield a positive result. In this case, it certainly has.' Eighteenth-Century Music 'This book is skilfully written and the mode of delivery is refreshingly direct and accessible. ... the scholarly apparatus supporting the book is impeccable and one is continually impressed by the exhaustiveness and breadth of the author's research. ... The importance of this study lies, not just in what it reveals about the multifariousness of women's musical activity in England in the later eighteenth century - and what emerges is considerable - but also in what it contributes towards a more nuanced understanding of the period in general: it has much to say that is new about the subtle and complex interaction of music and society, in which women musicians of varying calibre played an inextricable and indispensible part. ... Ritchie's book is to be welcomed as an extremely sophisticated contribution.' Ad Parnassum 'Very little is known about women's musical composition in eighteenth century England, and this excellent book makes a solid foundation for the subject...Ritchie's informative, highly intelligent sentences are a pleasure to read, and the book is beautifully researched, with an extensive bibliography separated usefully into three listings: musical sources, eighteenth-century sources, and other critical, historical, and bibliographical sources. ...Anyone interested in the history of music, or in women's cultural production in eighteenth-century England, will want to read this book.' Eighteenth-Century Fiction

Author Information

Leslie Ritchie is Associate Professor of English at Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.

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