WORKS FOR HORN BY AMERICAN WOMEN COMPOSERS

Abstract

This performance dissertation consists of three recitals featuring the music of American women composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. My purpose in presenting these recitals is to expose and explore the lesser known compositions of these composers through live public performances. I selected a cross section of composers whose compositions employed a wide range of musical styles, techniques and instrumentation. The instrumentation included not only the "standard" works for solo horn and horn and piano, but various chamber compositions as well. Of these chamber works, there exists a duet for horn and harp, a trio for violin, cello and horn, and a quartet for viola, horn, piano, and percussion. In addition to the published works chosen, it was my intent to further heighten the awareness of American women composers through the commissioning of a work specifically for this dissertation. The resulting piece was Arbor for horn and harp by Elisabeth Mehl Greene, which received its premiere on April 18, 2009. Through this project, it is my hope to have not only increased the public's awareness of these lesser known works but to have contributed to the performances of these ever growing number of works by American women composers.