28th Annual Student Research Conference
Brahms and His Impact on Women's Choruses Through His Work with the Hamburg Frauenchor
Megan F. Petrie♦
Dr. Jay Bulen, Faculty Mentor
In the late 1850s and early 1860s, Johannes Brahms was working with an amateur chorus made up of young women of Hamburg, Germany. In the 19th century, this type of chorus was extremely rare. This presentation will examine how the unique circumstances of the city of Hamburg, the growing middle class, and the young women involved created an unprecedented female chorus. Brahmss work with the Hamburg Frauenchor impacted the development of womens choruses by increasing the sheer volume of works for female chorus, breaking previously held precedents of subject matter and instrumentation, promoting other treble choir repertoire, and inspiring his students and contemporaries to create their own female choruses throughout Europe and the United States.
Keywords: Choir, Brahms, Women's Chorus, Hamburg Frauenchor
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 307-1
Location: OP 2117
Time: 1:00