Papers by Eugene Gates
Ed. D, dissertation, University of Toronto, 1992
This dissertation traces the social myth of woman's innate creative inferiority in music through ... more This dissertation traces the social myth of woman's innate creative inferiority in music through its many transformations: from its roots in Romantic philosophy, through the writings of turn-of-the-century critics, to past and present psychological theories of musical creativity. The case studies of four exceptionally gifted women composers from the Romantic era (Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann, Dame Ethel Smyth and Amy Beach), which form the central part of this investigation, make clear that the dearth of eminent women composers is due not to any innate deficiency in the female mind, but to ideological and institutional constraints directly linked to the social construction of gender. Such barriers include the role that women have been expected to play in society, the prejudices they have encountered in attempting to establish themselves in the male-dominated field of composition, the critical double standard, and psychological obstacles resulting from the internalization of negative societal attitudes toward women's creative potential.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2020
This article examines the life and career of English composer Maude Valerie White (1855-1937).
A steady decline in the quality of organ literature began around the time of J. S. Bach's death (... more A steady decline in the quality of organ literature began around the time of J. S. Bach's death (1750) , and continued into the early decades of the nineteenth century. Through the publication of his Three Preludes and Fugues, Op. 37 (1837) and the Six Sonatas, Op. 65 (1845), Mendelssohn brought an end to the most decadent period in the history of German organ music. It may justly be said that he founded the modern school of organ composition. Performers, teachers and critics frequently approach Mendelssohn's organ works from the perspective of the late nineteenth-century "symphonic" tradition, thus presenting a complete distortion of the composer's intentions. It is the purpose of this thesis to establish an historically accurate performance practice for Mendelssohn's important and unique contribution to the organ repertoire.
Kapralova Society Journal , 2013
This article examines the life and works of British composer Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944),
Journal of Aesthetic Education, 1997
Journal of Aesthetic Education, 1994
Journal of Aesthetic Education, 2001
Kapralova Society Journal, 2006
Through a conspiracy of silence on the part of music historians, coupled with the gender-biased w... more Through a conspiracy of silence on the part of music historians, coupled with the gender-biased writings of philosophers, music critics and music educators of the past, the age-old myth has been perpetuated that the gift of musical creativity is granted only to males. This article examines some of these writings in order to demonstrate their relationship to both the limited content of music education for women throughout most of the Romantic era--specifically, the lack of adequate instruction in theoretical subjects--and the nineteenth-century double standard in music criticism, which allowed critics to evaluate a woman's compositions in terms of the extent to which they were thought to conform to prevailing stereotypes of ideal femininity.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2005
This article examines critically the various theories put forward by psychologists (both past and... more This article examines critically the various theories put forward by psychologists (both past and present) in their attempts to explain the relative absence of women composers in standard music history textbooks and music reference books.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2005
This article explores the relative absence of women's achievements as composers from music hist... more This article explores the relative absence of women's achievements as composers from music history textbooks and standard music reference books. It also discusses the challenge that this poses for music education.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2007
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, the elder sister of Felix Mendelssohn and a gifted composer in her own ... more Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, the elder sister of Felix Mendelssohn and a gifted composer in her own right, created a significant body of work despite facing societal constraints and familial expectations. This article examines her life, musical endeavors, and the factors that influenced her career, including her domestic roles and the music culture of her time.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2006
This article examines the critical reception of the music of Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944), highli... more This article examines the critical reception of the music of Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944), highlighting the concept of sexual aesthetics, a double standard that arose in the evaluation of women's music at the time. The piece further explores the lasting impact of these gendered criteria on contemporary music criticism.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2009
This article explores the multifaceted life and work of Clara Schumann, a prominent pianist and c... more This article explores the multifaceted life and work of Clara Schumann, a prominent pianist and composer of the 19th century, often overshadowed by her role as the wife of Robert Schumann. It delves into her musical education, early achievements as a child prodigy, and the challenges she faced in being recognized as a composer in a male-dominated field. By examining her contributions to music, the article aims to shed light on the complexities of her identity as both an artist and a woman within the historical context of her time.
Kapralova Society Journal, 2011
Mrs. H. H. A. Beach (1867-1944), born Amy Marcy Cheney, was a pioneering American woman composer ... more Mrs. H. H. A. Beach (1867-1944), born Amy Marcy Cheney, was a pioneering American woman composer whose creative achievements transcended the societal expectations of her time. Despite the limitations placed on women in music, she produced significant large-scale works, including the first symphony to be composed and published by an American woman, a concert mass, a piano concerto, chamber music, a chamber opera, and extensive church music. Beach's formidable talents were evident from a young age, and she acquired her compositional skills through self-study of the great masters while defying societal norms to create a lasting legacy in American classical music. This article examines her life and musical works.
Book Reviews by Eugene Gates
University of Toronto Quarterly, 1996
Drafts by Eugene Gates
This article highlights the contributions of George Bernard Shaw to music criticism during the la... more This article highlights the contributions of George Bernard Shaw to music criticism during the late 19th century. It examines his unique approach to music journalism, which transformed the landscape of musical discussions in English-speaking media. Shaw's legacy is characterized by his ability to engage general readers and reshape the standards of music criticism.
This article documents Mendelssohn's prowess as one of the most important organ virtiosi of his t... more This article documents Mendelssohn's prowess as one of the most important organ virtiosi of his time, and explores his use of the organ to further the Bach revival.
Books by Eugene Gates
This anthology begins with two major essays that explain why we rarely see women composers includ... more This anthology begins with two major essays that explain why we rarely see women composers included in music history textbooks, or hear their music performed in major concert venues. The book then continues with chapters on the lives and legacies of nine women musicians who made a major impact in their respective fields and communities: Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann, Ethel Smyth, Amy Beach, Agathe Backer Grondahl, Maude Valerie White, Ethel Smyth, Amy Beach, Florence Price, Vera Lynn and Vitezslava Kapralova. The history of early lady orchestras and their maestras is also explored.
Uploads
Papers by Eugene Gates
Book Reviews by Eugene Gates
Drafts by Eugene Gates
Books by Eugene Gates