Voices of 19th and 20th Century Women

by Jim Lowe

Clara Schumann was better than most composers of our time, but unfortunately not as good as her husband, Robert. Much the same can be said of the other composers featured on the new album Music of Her Own: 19th and 20th Century Songs and Piano Works by Women.

Burlington area musicians soprano Jill  Hallett Levis and pianist Elaine Greenfield, who have made a specialty of Performing the music of women, received a grant from the Vermont Council on the Arts to create the substantial and rewarding recording. Composers represented are the German Clara Schumann and the American Amy Beach of the 19th century, while the French Lili Boulanger, the German Alma Mahler, the Polish Grazyna Bacewicz and Vermont's own Gwyneth Walker are of the 20th century. Levis and Greenfield are both fine musicians, making excellent Arguments for their sisters in music.

Schumann (1819-1896) was one of the finest pianists of her day and quite a good composer although she never received her deserved recognition. The same could be said about Beach (1867-1944), who was composing at the same time as Brahms. And the works of Boulanger, while refreshingly original, ultimately paled next to the efforts of the stars of her day, Ravel and Debussy.

While the works on this album cannot necessarily be considered the best of their day, they are substantial works by very good composers and are enjoyable, meaningful and moving. With repeated listenings, masterpieces become even better. With inferior music, 'familiarity breeds contempt,' as the old expression goes. With the works on this album, repeated listenings make for old friends.

Schumann's 'Nocturne', Op. 6 (1886) and three songs from Hermann Rollett's Jocunde (1863) are written in the grand manner of the German Romantic period. Greenfields and passion, dramatic piano and Levis' music silver Sopranos certainly do these works justice. 

Beach was a fairly successful American composer and her piano solo 'Dreaming' from 'Sketches' shows why. Big and romantic, this music is reminiscent of Brahms with just a lilting touch of Chopin. Greenfield's approach is Broad and moving, but some of the details are lost in the pedal.

Boulanger lived a very short life but composed music that is clean and original, as exemplified by the three songs that are on this recording--'Vous M'Avez Regarde' and 'Attente' from 1910 and 'Reflets', written in 1911--all sensitively performed. The music is Impressionist-refined, with just a taste of modernism. Boulanger what's the younger sister of Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979,) composition teacher of Aaron Copland, Virgil Thompson, Elliott Carter and Walter Piston, among others.

While Boulanger is undeniably French, Mahler's songs are very German. Written by the Widow of composer Gustav Mahler, they combined dark, thick Romanticism with an early 20th century sensibility. The two songs, 'Waldseligkeit' and 'Lobgesang' (1915), are rich and full-bodied and performed wonderfully. 

Also full-bodied, but much more modern is Bacewicz's 'Sonata II' (1953). In two movements, the work is big, dramatic and driving. Greenfield is very much at home with this music, offering passion and a fluid line.

No surprise that the first two songs by Walker--'Maggie and Millie and Mollie and May' and 'Lily Has a Rose'-- are light, witty, and a lot of fun, making them perfect for musical theater. The closing song by Walker, 'Thy fingers make early flowers,' is a substantial, dramatic song that seems to return the Romantic leider of Schumann. Levis and Greenfield have compiled a fascinating collection of music by women, well worth many hearings.

Jim Lowe is Arts Editor of the Barre Montpelier Times Argus.