‘A Short History of Electronic Music and its Women Protagonists’ is the title of a new book that covers some of the influential women who have left their mark on the genre.
Written by Johann Merrich it will go on sale on the 1st of July via Amazon who also published the book, and it promises to be an insightful read featuring 95 composers from Russia, India, North America, Japan, Europe and Latin America.
Along with the women who produced and composed the music it also follows the development of new technologies and artistic languages from the last century that has influenced electronic music.
The book references some unpublished research and original studies, such as letters by Hilda Diandi and a new critical reading of Lady Ada Lovelace’s life. Other artists who feature include Daphne Oram, Suzanne Ciani, Pauline Oliveros, Lucie Rosen, Teresa Rampazzi, Hilda Dianda, Barbara Holdridge and Delia Derbyshire.
The press release reads: “In its digital form, the history of the work of women in electronic music is separated from the male world, thus continuing on the path of exclusion and resolving the complexity of the issue in a handful of names disconnected from the broader picture.”
“The ‘young’ age of electronic music – together with the traditional privilege granted by historians to the productions of North America and some European countries – contribute in obstructing the drafting of an equal, diagonal and comprehensive understanding of this topic.”
Originally the book was written in Italian and that version was released in 2019, but this 2021 edition is the first time it’s been officially translated into English. The translation was made possible via involvement from the Mariann Stegmann Foundation, which works to advance women in music and art.
Heroines of Sound Festival is a global showcase of live music, and they also assisted with the new edition. Their organisation was founded in 2014 and their events feature performance and sound art, panels, workshops and films established in 2014.
H/T: DJ Mag
