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March 14, 1996 - Episode 595 - Women of Achievement and Herstory
compiled and written by Irene Stuber
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This is part 1 or 3 parts about one of the great musical scandals
of
Europe (and the U.S. for that matter): the refusal of musical directors
and
conductors of symphonic or professional orchestras to acknowledge that
musicians play musical instruments with their hands/and or mouths and not
by
which lavatories they use.
But of course, the musical directors claim it's musical ability not
sex.
In 1980, as if to prove their professionalism the Munich
Philharmonic
went so far as to having aspiring musicians trying out behind screens so
that
only their music was judged. Abbie Conant, born 03-14-1955, made the
cut.
Then in two more open trials she clearly proved herself the better of the
original 32 other (male) opponents and the members of the orchestra voted
to
hire her as First Trombonist.
And thus began a war of nerves and harassment between Abbie Conant
and the General Music Director of the Munich Philharmonic Sergiu
Celibidache
whose opinion of women musicians was so blatant that he called
internationally
recognized super star Anna-Sophie Mutter a "violin playing hen."
Celibidache, new to the orchestra when Conant was hired, probably
didn't feel he had enough power to overrule the orchestra's own selection
of
Conant as FIRST trombonist. The next year, however, without any
incidents and in fact the orchestra voted her tenure, Celibidache tried to demote
her to
second trombonist. Abbie offered a compromise in her third year. She
would
play second trombone but solo for guest conductors who had been unanimous
in praising her work.
He refused saying, "You know the problem: we need a man for solo
trombone." He criticized the orchestra often by saying they "sounded
like a
woman's orchestra."
In February, 1982 Abbie Conant filed suit against the City of
Munich,
Germany (the orchestra is municipally owned and operated) to regain her
First
Trombonist seat and, of course, her reputation as an outstanding trombone
soloist. The second seat requires a lot more work and a lot LESS pay.
(To be continued March 15 with Part 2 of 3 parts of the Abbie
Conant
story.)
03-14 Anniversaries ...........................................
B. Mar. 14, 1833, Lucy Hobbs Taylor, first women in US to receive a
degree in dentistry (Ohio College, 1866) and woman's rights activist.
B. Mar. 14, 1875, Isadore Gilbert Mudge, librarian and
bibliographer.
Cataloguer Minner Earle Sears, whose career was also a distinguished one,
became IGM's companion, and collaborator. Together they created
_Thackeray
Dictionary_ (1910), edited the _Guide to Reference Books_ through four
editions. IGM was reference librarian at Columbia University for 30
years. A
citation is given annually in Mudge's name to reference librarians for
distinguished work.
B. Mar. 14, 1877, Edna Woolman Chase, THE High Priestess of
Fashion,
joined _Vogue_ magazine in 1899 and made managing editor in 1909 and
editor
in chief in 1914. Her word was from on high regarding fashion for 40
years.
Actor Ilka Chase was her daughter.
B. Mar. 14, 1887, Sylvia Beach, operated the world-renowned
Parisian
bookstore Shakespeare and Company along with her longtime domestic
partner
Andrienne Monnier.
B. Mar. 14, 1894, Osa Helen Leighty Johnson, author, filmmaker,
adventurer, and explorer. She and her husband filmed South Seas native
customs - including head hunting - and toured the vaudeville circuit
showing
the films. A number of the films became commercial successes and they
turned
their attention to Africa. After her husband's death, OHLJ continued
filming.
She wrote a number of books about the native customs and animals. Her
autobiography, _I Married Adventure_, (1940) was a best seller.
E. Mar. 14, 1916, the right to vote and stand for public office for
women
of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan was validated. The general
enfranchisement of women in Canada occurred 05-24-1918.
B. Mar. 14, 1923, Diane Arbus, American photographer who excelled
at
capturing the inner spirit of ordinary people.
....................... * ........................
Don't let anyone tell you there weren't notable and effective women
throughout history. They were always there, but historians failed to
note
them in our histories so that the women of each generation have had to
reinvent themselves.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=>>(C) 1996, All Rights Reserved, Irene Stuber, PO Box 6185, Hot Springs
National Park, AR 71902, voice mail or fax, 501-624-5262 ID #300, or
email
istuber@cswnet.com or irenestuber@delphi.com with comments and
suggestions.
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