“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 |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 22 - 23 | Sing! Part 2 | Women’s voices raised in song |
| Feb. 29 - March 1 | Looking Back | Music by women from Medieval, Renaissance, and the Baroque |
| March 7 - 8 | At the Keyboard, Part 3 | Women pianists have left the parlor and made their mark on the concert stage. This week, performances from these talented musicians |
| March 14 - 15 | Four by Four, Part 2 | Performances from all-female quartets |
| March 21 - 22 | Seasonal Music: Spring | Honor the equinox and the arrival of Spring with works for the season, written and performed by women |
| March 28 - 29 | Patchwork Quilt, Part XIX | Another block is added to our patchwork quilt |
May 30, 2020
“Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” – Jimi Hendrix Why call this a “Patchwork Quilt” episode? Well, sometime I have music that’s come into the studio that I just want to share with you. It may not fit neatly into a program theme, or it may have simply caught my attention and I couldn’t wait. And I’m a quilter, and I love the way seemingly disparate bits and pieces can come together to make a cohesive whole. So it’s time to add another musical block to our ever-expanding Patchwork Quilt. Patchwork Quilt, Part XXI Laura Netzel: La Gondoliera, Op. 60 Paula Gudmundson, flute; Tracy Lipke-Perry, piano “Breaking Waves” MSR Classica 1722 Adolphus Hailstork: Theme and Variations on “Draw the Sacred Circle Closer” Kristen Yeon-Ji Yun, cello “Summerland” MSR Classica 1752 Bohuslav Martinu: Primrose Jitro Girls Choir; Jiri […] Read More
May 23, 2020
“Don’t think of yourself as anything but an equal. Break down the doors. It’s only doors.” – Hans Zimmer Women made up just 3% of the composers working on the top 250 highest-grossing films last year. The struggle to find work in the industry is genuine, and although progress is being made, there is still a long way to go. Here are some of the incredibly talented women being recognized for their achievements in film and theater. “Stage and Screen” Lucy Simon: Race You to the Top of the Morning Mandy Patinkin, vocals Original Cast Orchestra “The Secret Garden (Original Broadway Cast)” Masterworks Broadway Jeanine Tesori: Viola’s Theme Lincoln Center Theater Orchestra “Music from the Lincoln Center Theatre Production of Twelfth Night” Resmiranda Records Cindy Lauper: Raise You Up/Just Be (Finale) Original Broadway Cast “Kinky Boots (Original Broadway Cast Recording)” Masterworks Broadway Mica Levi: The End & End […] Read More
May 16, 2020
“Water, stories, the body, all the things we do, are mediums that hid and show what’s hidden.” – Rumi Cleansing. Healing, Flowing. Powerful. Transformative. These are words that apply to water, and to music. Each are vital to life. This episode is devoted to music inspired by water. Water Music Traditional, arr. by Moses Hogan: Deep River Duo Dolce “Summerland: Music for Cello and Piano by Composers of African Descent” MSR Classics 1752 Stacy Garrop: The Lovely Sirens (from Mythology Symphony) CCPA Symphony Orchestra; Alonda de la Parra, conductor “Mythology Symphony: Orchestral Works by Stacy Garrop” Cedille 90000 160 Jennifer Margaret Barker: Blue Waters Heather Corbett, vibraphone “Nvaigs” CRI 862 Margaret Brandman: Undulations Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra; Petr Vronsky, conductor “Sensations: Wind, Waves, Birds & Fire” Navona 6041 Kate Moore: Stories for Ocean Shells Ashley Bathgate, cello “Stories for Ocean Shells” Cantaloupe 21118 Luis Tinoco: O Sotaque Azul das Aguas Gulenkian Orchestra; Susanna Malkki, conductor “The […] Read More
May 9, 2020
“Percussion is the most adaptable family of instruments. The biggest challenge is to project percussion in a lyrical way.” – Evelyn Glennie A singer always has their instrument with them. A cellist, a flutist, they carry a bit more – one, or perhaps several, instruments, music, music stand, and accessories like rosin, or cleaning cloths. But a percussionist – well, let’s just say, most of them drive a van. Drums, sticks, shakers, woodblocks, marimbas, vibraphones, stands for their music and all of their instruments. Not to mention the unusual instruments they are asked to play – water gongs, rainsticks, flower pots, brake drums, sticks and stones. The women on today’s program have had to master them all. Sticks and Stones Evelyn Glennie: A Little Prayer Evelyn Glennie, marimba “Evelyn Glennie – Rhythm Song” RCA 602422 Nick Rissman: McCoy’s Mountain Philadelphia Percussion Project “Movement In Time” Equilibrium 105 Roberto Rodriguez & […] Read More
May 2, 2020
“When we sing together, we sound amazing! Because we’re bonded like sisters.” – Racheal Olowationogun There’s something special about the sound of women’s voices raise together in song. It is moving to be part of such an ensemble, and is a beautiful thing to behold. Today, performances from women’s choirs across the globe. “Finding Her Voice” Bo Holten: Ego Flos Campi Danish National Girls’ Choir Phillip Faber, director “Wisdom and Folly and Other Choral Works” Chandos 10320 Harri Wessman: Vesi vasyy lumen alle (Water Under Snow is Weary) Hodie Vocal Ensemble Jean-Claude Wilkens, director “Kaleidosope” Carus 83150 Christos Samara: 5 Songs Thamyriades “Peace is when…” Phasma Music 018 Joseph Rheinberger: Mass in E-flat Major, Op. 155 Elektra Women’s Choir Brian Nixon, organ; Lorraine Reinhardt soprano “Rheinberger Sacred Music VI – Missa et Hymni” Carus 83145 Eric Whitacre: The Seal Lullaby and Lux Arumque Luminos Sauli Hannuksela, artistic director “In […] Read More
April 25, 2020
“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community..” – Dorothy Day With each new technology, it seems our world gets smaller. Now, more than ever, we are interacting with individuals across the globe, becoming a global community. And this has allowed artists to incorporate their own unique cultural nuances into so-called “classical” music. This week, we take a trip around the globe. “Around the World” Hamish Scott Henderson, John MacLennan: Freedom Come All Ye Pumeza Matshikiva, soprano Phil Cunningham, whistle; Fiona Hamilton, fiddle; Mamadou Ndiaye Cissokho, percussion; Sura Susso,harp “Voice of Hope” Decca 4787605 Holly Harrison: Vibe Rant Ensemble Offspring “Offspring Bites 2” Bandcamp Claude Debussy: Violin Sonata Kyung Wha Chung, violin Radu Lupu, piano “Franck, Debussy, Ravel: Violin Sonatas” Decca 4211542 Franz Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Donka Angatscheva, piano “Liszt: Piano Works” […] Read More
April 18, 2020
“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” – Jimmy Neil Smith Music brings storytelling to a new level. Whether its the composer who sets the story down, or the performer who tells it, there is power in the resulting imagery. Let’s listen to these tales, told by women. “Women’s Stories” Mark Brandt: The Nightingale Yana Nikol, flute; Katherine Colburn, cello Mark Brandt, piano “The Nightingale” Lionhearted Music East 51317 Rouen Shakarian: The Turnip; The Wonderful Counting Clock Text by Pierr Morgan (The Turnip) and Cooper Edens (The Wonderful Counting Clock) Ranier Chamber Winds: Kathleen Macferran, founder/conductor “Tales Told in the Winds” MMC Recordings 2071 Edie Hill: From the Wingbone of a Swan (excerpts) The Crossing; Donald Nally, conductor “Clay Jug” Navona 6073 John Alan Rose: Old Father Time JungWon Choi, cello Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra; Miran Vaupotić, conductor “Ineffable Tales” Navona 6157 […] Read More
April 11, 2020
“Believe in your talents, your abilities, and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even brighter path.” – Soledad O’Brien This week we highlight women leading the way, overcoming both racial and gender bias, to achieve success in the classical music world. “Women of Color: Leaders, Part 2” Jessie Montgomery: Break Away (excerpts) PUBLIQuartet “Strum: Music for Strings” Azica Records 71302 Hilda Paredes: Papalote Jake Arditti, vocal; Irvine Arditti, violin Aeon 1439 Maria Grever: Un Beso Maria Luisa Tamez, mezzo-soprano; Angel Rodriguez, piano “Canta a Maria Grever y Augustin Lara” Urtext 227 Glenn Gould: String Quartet, Opus 1 Catalyst Quartet “Bach/Gould Project” Azica 71300 Run time: 59:29 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 studios at WCNY-FM. Read More
April 4, 2020
“If you have won a national award, it means you have done something great.” – Remo D’Souza The most recent awards season has come and gone, and on this episode, we take a listen to performances from some marvelously talented instrumentalists who were recognized at the Grammy awards. Award Winners Mieczslaw Weinberg: Symphony No. 21 “Kaddish” (excerpt) Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, conductor City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Kremerata Baltica “Weinberg: Symphonies 2 & 21” Deutsche Grammophon 483 6566 Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 7 (excerpt) Yuja Wang, piano “The Berlin Recital” Deutsche Grammophon 4836280 Gustav Holst: Chaconne, from First Suite for Military Band, Op. 28, No. 1 Jan Kraybill, organ “The Orchestral Organ” Reference Recordings 145 Michael Torke: Sky (excerept) Tessa Lark, violin Albany Symphony Orchestra; David Alan Miller “Sky” Albany 1784 Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concert (excerpt) Nicola Benedetti, violin Philadelphia Orchestra; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor “Wynton Marsalis/Nicola Benedetti: Violin Concerto/Fiddle Dance Suite” Decca 0030521-02 Jennifer […] Read More
March 28, 2020
“How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspirations?” – Jane Swan On this Patchwork Quilt episode, new music for old instruments, a work inspired by war, and another inspired by peace. With performances from outstanding performers and composers. Patchwork Quilt, Part XI Mark Janello: Toccata-Rondo for Harpsichord Elaine Funaro, harpsichord “Uno, due, tre” Aliénor 1210 Jakub Ciupinski: Edo Lullaby Anne Akiko Meyers, violin “Mirror in Mirror” Avie 2386 Alexandra Stréliski: Overturn Alexandra Stréliski, piano “Inscape” Secret City Records 080 Edwin McLean: Sonata for Three Harpsichords Elaine Funaro, Beverly Biggs, Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichords “Uno, due, tre” Aliénor 1210 Adrienne Albert: War Stories Julie Thornton, flute/piccolo; Michael Thornton, horn; Susan Grace, piano “Passages: Music for Flute & Horn” Albany 1705 Morten Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium Anne Akiko Meyers, violin Philharmonia Orchestra; Kristjan Järvi, conductor “Mirror in Mirror” Avie 2386 Run time: 58:29 Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women […] Read More
