as published in the IAWM Journal, Winter 1998, p. 29.
Each year a theme or historical period is chosen for the interdisciplinary section of the Symposium. The musical programs in the Festival reflect this choice, and we program works/ music/traditions from the past alongside contemporary works that are inspired by (a) the period, (b) the instruments used in that period, and (c) especially commissioned works.
The second part of the Symposium is dedicated to national reports about women musicians and contemporary women composers in each country, and these are presented by women composers, women representing national "women in/and music" organizations or musicologists. Where possible we prefer to invite women composers (either as individuals or as representatives of national organizations), and we try to program a new work by each of these guests.
The 1998 edition of the Festival and Symposium will be centered around the period running from 1198 (death of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, mystic and musician) till 1498 (when Vasco da Gama opened the sea routes to the Indies). In Western classical music this encompasses the period between the middle ages and the Renaissance, a period in which we find many women composers in the courts, cloisters, as itinerant singers in family companies, and as courtesans. In many parts of the Mediterranean they were still active as sacred songstresses, as members of court bands and orchestras, and above all as a strong presence within the oral traditions.
Theme: Europe-Asia-Africa: Women Musicians From 1200 Till 1500 Three centuries of musical creativity and profession, both sacred and profane •We are looking for the following participants
1. Musicologists (women/men) who would like to contribute a paper related to the above with particular reference to the history and musical traditions of their home countries.
2. Proposals from performing artists who uphold the traditions and performing styles of the above period. Clearly, we are primarily interested in women musicians and in music by women.
3. Contemporary women composers who should send scores and recordings of their works together with complete professional biographies to the Foundation (see below).
The geographical areas or countries of particular interest for the 1998 edition are: Africa, Arab Emirates, Balkan Regions, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Mongolia, Portugal, Spain, Sudan, and Tunisia. Quite clearly, if there are papers from other countries which refer to women musicians in the countries covered, the Foundation will be happy to take these into consideration.
Proposals should be sent directly to the Foundation together with an abstract (no more than 200 words) and a professional curriculum vita (name, address, institution, phone/fax, e-mail) and eventual technical requirements.
Send a brief artistic proposal with information on the group/soloist, recordings and contacts. Please do not send proposals for general programs with music by women composers. The Foundation invites specialists in early and traditional music and prepares its own program of contemporary music and therefore also the performers.
Please send scores, recordings and professional materials as suggested above.
1. Music for unaccompanied SATB choir (specializing in polyphony)
2. Cello Octet
3. Guitar, Flute, Cello, Percussion
4. Percussion with/without a maximum of two other instruments
1. We are not programming music for/with pianoforte, song recitals, symphonic works or oratorios.
2. The languages of the Symposium are Italian, English and French; all other languages must be translated into one of the above.
3. Although the "official" deadline for submitting scores and papers was December 30, 1997, programming will continue through the Spring of 1998 and scores may still be submitted. For additional information about participating in or attending the Symposium and Festival, please contact:
Giovanna Natalini, assistant to Foundation President Patricia Adkins Chiti.
Fondazione Adkins Chiti: Donne in Musica
Teatro Comunale; Piazza Trento e Trieste; 03014 Fiuggi Città, Italy
E-mail: donne.musica@rtmol.stt.it; Tel/fax:0039 775 549071
Homepage: http://www.rtmol.it/donneinmusica/index.html