“Feminine Fusion” is a weekly radio program that highlights the influence of women in classical music. These are the women throughout history and into the present day who create, perform, and inspire. Composer/announcer Diane Jones of WCNY-FM in Syracuse, NY is your host, and every week showcases some of these remarkable women.
Women are the central, unifying focus of this series. It is important to note, however, that their influence is broad-ranging, crossing the boundaries of culture, race, and gender. Who can know what might have happened to the likes of Aaron Copland, Donald Byrd, or Quincy Jones had they not studied with Nadia Boulanger?
“Had you asked me 10 years ago if I would have introduced a program focused on women in music, I would have said ‘no.’ Growing up in a houseful of brothers, I was always treated as their equal,” says Jones. “But there is still gender bias in the music world. I am anxious for the time when we no longer separate composers from women composers, or conductors from women conductors.“
Some of the individuals highlighted in this program entered the world of the arts knowing they faced opposition, and gathered their strength to face it head on. Others simply took to their chosen path, often unaware of the impact their actions would have. In every case, however, they have touched hearts and souls with their art.
Diane Jones
Diane Jones is the host of Feminine Fusion, aired every week on WCNY-FM. An active composer, she has received commissions from nationally and internationally-recognized musicians and ensembles, as well as completing 5 residencies in Syracuse area schools, introducing young musicians to composition. Diane performs regularly with Samba Laranja and the Central New York Flute Choir, and her music has been featured on two SAMMY-award winning CDs. Follow Diane on Twitter (@ComposerJones) and Facebook (here or here) for more about her programming and her music.
| Air Date | Program Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| June 29 - July 5 | Look Toward Home | Music by women from the US |
| July 6 - 12 | Liberty and Justice For All | Works by women honoring human rights |
| July 13 - 19 | Voices of the World | Choral ensembles from around the globe |
| July 20 - 26 | Three by Three, Part 2 | This week, performances by all-female trios |
| July 27 - Aug. 2 | Music on the Wind, Part 2 | Women playing woodwinds |
August 24, 2019
“The awful things a hippopotamustn’t do Are just As important as the lawful things A hippopotamust.” – J. Patrick Lewis, “A Hippopotamustn’t” Let’s have some fun! This week on Feminine Fusion, some lighthearted works, including words of wisdom from a mother, a few frogs around a fountain, dueling cats, and so much more. “Humorous Music” Claude Debussy: Jimbo’s Lullaby (from The Children’s Corner) Larissa Dedova, piano “Claude Debussy: Complete Solo Piano Music” Centaur 3094 Alla Borzova: Mother Said Paul Sperry, tenor The Da Capo Chamber Players “Pinsk & Blue: The Chamber Music of Alla Borzova” Albany 923 Judith Lang Zaimont: Bubble-Up Rag Immanuel Davis, flute; Nannette K. Solomon, piano “Prestidigitations” MSR Classics 1238 Jennifer Bernard Merkowitz: Les Crapauds de la Fontaine Andrew Kovaleski, bass clarinet “Mind & Machine, Vol. 2” Ravello Records 7997 Jennifer Bernard Merkowitz: A Hippopotamustn’t Text by J. Patrick Lewis Otterbein University Concert Choir; Dr. Gayle Walker, director Live performance, used […] Read More
August 17, 2019
“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines” – William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18 It’s August, and we are well past the Summer Solstice and looking toward the Fall. Before the seasons turn, though, let’s take a listen to music of the Summer. “Summer Heat” Elena Kats-Chernin: Deep Sea Dreaming Gondwana Voices; Lyn Williams, conductor Sally Whitwell, piano “Dreamings” ABC Classics 4769093 Judith Lang Zaimont: Piano Trio No. 1 “Russian Summer” Peter Winograd, violin; Peter Wyrick, cello; Joanne Polk, piano “Judith Lang Zaimont” Sorel Classics 003 Thea Musgrave: The Seasons: IV. Summer Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Nicholas Kraemer, conductor “Musgrave: Memento Vitae, Helios, Night Music & The Seasons” NMC 074 Lena Johnson McLin: A Summer Day Helen Walker-Hill, piano “Kaleidoscope: Music by African-American Women” Leonarda 339 Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer 1915 Dawn Upshaw, soprano Orchestra of St. Luke’s; David Zinman, conductor “Dawn Upshaw – Knoxville: Summer of […] Read More
August 10, 2019
“The idea that now there are more and more women conductors is a great sign that women are being seen in leadership roles.” – JoAnn Falletta This week, women who are leading orchestras around the world. Including a fascinating work require three conductors – and in this performance, they are all women. “Lead On” Johann Pachelbel: Canon in D JoAnn Falletta, conductor Buffalo Philharmonic “Favorite Holiday Classics” Buffalo Philharmonic Dmitri Shostakovich: Nocturne Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, conductor City of Birmingham Orchestra Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello “Inspiration” Decca Classics 4832948 Richard Danielpour: A Child’s Reliquary Sarah Hicks, conductor Vermont Symphony Orchestra Jamie Laredo, violin; Sharon Robinson, cello “Triple Doubles” Bridge 9354 Michael Daugherty: Time Machine Marin Alsop, Mei-Ann Chen, Laura Jackson – conductors Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra “Route 66” Naxos 8.559615 Run time: 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who […] Read More
August 3, 2019
“Percussion is the most adaptable family of instruments. The biggest challenge is to project percussion in a lyrical way.” – Evelyn Glennie In many cultures, only the men are permitted to play drums. Women may sing and dance, but drumming, well, that’s left to the men. But those norms are being challenged. For example, the Didá School of Music in Salvador, Bahia “is dedicated to improving the condition of women and children through constructive social engagement revolving around a core of music and dance classes offered at the Didá educational center.” On this episode of Feminine Fusion, we’ll take a look at some women percussionists who are breaking down stereotypes. “Striking Music” Oriol Cruixent: Marimba Moshka Vivi Vassileva, marimba “Singin’ Rhythm” Alpha 463 Keiko Abe: Michi, for marimba Rebecca Kite, marimba “Prism” CD Baby Astor Piazzolla: Tango Suite Nancy Zeltsman, marimba “Woodcuts” GM Records 2043 Michael Aukofer: Neophilia The Caixa Trio […] Read More
July 27, 2019
“All of the arts are something that can unite people. One of the most important things is people coming together and having a shared belief, and we should not become cut off from that.” – Jess Gillam There is something organic and intimate about the warmth of one’s breath flowing through an instrument, creating amazing music. This week, performances from several women playing woodwinds. “Music on the Wind, Part 2” Rudy Wiedoeft: Valse Vanité Jess Gillam, alto saxophone Zeynep Ozsuca, piano “Rise” Decca Records Carl Heinrich Jacobi: Introduction and Polonaise, Op. 9 Karen Geoghegan, bassoon Opera North Orchestra; Benjamin Wallfisch, conductor “Karen Geoghegan plays works for Bassoon and Orchestra” Chandos 10477 Mozart, arr. by Gunther Joppig: Three Operatic Duets Elaine Douvas & Emily Pailthorpe, oboes “Oboe Divas!” Oboe Classics 2018 John Williams: Clarinet Concerto Michele Zukovsky, clarinet Los Angeles Philharmonic; John Williams, conductor “John Williams/Michele Zukovsky” CD Baby Paquito d’Rivera: The Cape Cod Files Miriam […] Read More
July 20, 2019
“We don’t want anyone to classify our music. We would rather they simply love our music for what it is. Trying to define modern classical music is like trying to define modern art.” – The Ahn Trio There is a balance to music performed by trios. Done well, the trio presents a rich, full sound, yet it is still small and intimate enough to draw you into the music, to make you feel a part of it. Today we’ll hear from several trios of women making music together. “Three by Three, Part 2” Astor Piazzolla: Primavera Porteña, from Four Seasons in Buenos Aires Ahn Trio “Ahn-Plugged” EMI Classics 57022 Dan Locklair: Dream Steps – A Dance Suite (selections) Fire Pink Trio “Poetry in Motion” MSR Classics 1511 Robert Muczynski: Fragments Ceora Winds “Postcards” CD Baby Fernande Decruck: Trio Classique Reeds Amis “The Reed Trios of Fernande Decruck” CD Baby Bohuslav Martinů: String Trio No. 2 […] Read More
July 13, 2019
“Singing is like a celebration of oxygen.” – Bjork There is something special about the sound of women’s voices lifted together in song. This week, performances from around the globe by women’s vocal ensembles. “Voices of the World” Stevie Wishart: O Choruscans lux stellarum Voice “Musical Harmony” Independent Label Thomas Tallis: Audivi Lumina “Light in the Darkness” Independent Label Petr Eben: About Swallows and Girls Jitro Czech Girls Choir; Jiri Skopal, conductor “In Heaven” Navona Records 6228 Liisa Matevinen: Lemmen Nosto (Evoking Love) Philomela Female Choir “Mieli” Alba Tella Turkka: Minne kauneus katosi (Where did the beauty disappear?) Philomela Female Choir “Mieli” Alba Andrea Reinkemeyer: From Cycles of Eternity poems by Henrietta Cordelia Ray In Mulieribus; Dr. Anna Song, conductor “Cycles of Eternity” CD Baby Run time: 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. […] Read More
July 6, 2019
“Music can change the world because it can change people.” – Bono We are moved by many things, often most deeply moved by events in the world around us. This week, women responding in music to the humanity of the globe – actions of an individual, the persecution of a group, or the struggle for identity. “Liberty and Justice for All” Henri Duparc: La vie antérieure Barbara Hendricks, soprano Lyon Opera Orchestra; Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor “Orchestral Songs” EMI Classics 49689 Gabriela Montero: Ex Patria Gabriela Montero, piano Orchestra of the Americas; Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor “In memoriam” Orchid 100047 Ethel Smyth: March of the Women Eiddwen Harrhy, soprano Chorus and Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series; Philip Brunelle “British Composers: A Celebration” Warner Classics 0954802 Victoria Bond: The Indispensable Man: A Portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt John Bruce Yeh, clarinet; David Holloway, narrator Chicago College of […] Read More
June 29, 2019
“There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy Gale We’ve gone around the globe, and now it’s time to come home, to hear music by women living and working in the US. “Looking Toward Home” Loretta K. Notareschi: Form’d of Joy and Mirth William Harned, piano “Form’d of Joy and Mirth” DisegniMusic.com Jennifer Higdon: Harp Concerto Yolanda Kondonassis, harp Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; Ward Stare, conductor “American Rapture” Azica 71327 Vivian Adelberg Rudow: Rebecca’s Suite Nanette Kaplan Solomon, piano “Sunbursts: Solo piano works by 7 American women” Leonarda 345 Edie Hill: This Floating World Linda Chatterton, flute “Diverse Voices: American Music for Flute” Linda Chattertown 8032 Reena Esmail: #metoo Chicago Sinfonietta; Mei-Ann Chen, conductor “Project W” Cedille 185 Run time: 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. Produced in the […] Read More
June 22, 2019
“Playing lifts you out of yourself into a delirious place.” Jacqueline du Pré We’ve traveled north, south, and east. Now let’s head west, to Europe, and the rich array of classical music coming from Europe. “Looking West” Mozart: Deh vieni, non tardar (from Marriage of Figaro) Edita Gruberová, soprano Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra; Raymond Leppard, conductor “Bastien & Bastienne” Sony Classical 45855 Judith Bingham: Water Lilies Joyful Company of Singers: Peter Broadbent, conductor “A Garland for Linda” Angel/EMI 56961 Franz Schubert: Impromptu No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 90 Maria João Pires, piano “Pires/Schubert” Deutsche Grammophon 457550 Bruce Dessner: Haven Katia & Marielle Labèque, pianos David Chalmin & Bruce Dessner, guitars “El Chan” Deutsche Grammophon 4818097 Paul McCartney: Tuesday Andrea Quinn, conductor London Symphony Orchestra “Working Classical” Angel/EMI 56897 Mieczsław Weinberg: Symphony No. 2, Op. 30 Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, conductor Kremerata Baltica “Weinberg: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 21 ‘Kaddish'” Deutsche Grammophon 4836566 Run time: […] Read More
