Friday’s (5/5) NPR includes Tom Huizenga’s interview with Du Yun, who won this year’s Pulitzer Prize in Music. Q: Why is it so hard to hear orchestral music composed by women in our concert halls? A: In this particular time in our society, when we evaluate what is ‘good’ and ‘not good,’ it is very monogamous and perhaps too monotone. Q: Three out of the last 5 music Pulitzers have been given to women. Does that mean anything? A: It means immense, huge things. Well, look at my year, this year. The three finalists were women.… Let’s not fear different voices. Let’s not fear to hear [more than] Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Brahms, even though they’ve written fantastic masterpieces. Q: What are some specific measures that could be taken to help boost female composers? A: The so-called big awards need to go to a diverse round of people…. We’re also talking about race and orientation and all that. We need to also examine what diversity really means…. I would love to see some grants, for instance [to help with] child care … for ongoing support for older composers.”
Posted May 8, 2017
