Proceedings of The 6th Global Conference on Women’s Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): Her Role in 19th-Century Music and a Feminist Perspective
Seonhwa Lee
ABSTRACT:
In this paper, I will explore Emilie Mayer’s potential role within the context of 19th-century European music history from a feminist perspective, shedding light on her unrecognized achievements and examining her identity. As a woman in the 19th century, when education and professional opportunities were generally limited, Emilie Mayer (1812-1883) stood among the successful women composers in Germany. In mid-19th-century Berlin, she composed eight symphonies, a genre considered “masculine” at the time, along with numerous chamber music pieces. She also took charge of publishing her works, corresponding directly with publishers. Her music was performed throughout Western Europe. Her accomplishments as a female composer showcased a life markedly different from that of her contemporaries. However, her achievements were largely forgotten after her death. In this paper, I will examine the musical critiques and receptions of her main works and the social receptions documented by various Berlin music newspapers. From a feminist perspective, I will explore how she was perceived as a female composer, the societal standards she faced, and how these can be interpreted within the context of 19th-century music history. Additionally, the paper will contextualize Mayer’s achievements by analyzing how she overcame challenges as a woman and by comparing her to other female composers in Europe during the same period. The purpose of my research is to underscore the importance of reevaluating historical narratives to recognize and include influential and successful women composers who have been marginalized in music history.
keywords: Feminist Music Research, Woman’s success, Biographical Research, Female composers, 19th-Century European Music History