New historical anthology of music by women /

Briscoe (musicology, Butler Univ.) has revised his valuable 1987 anthology with up-to-date scholarship, ten new composers, and a more representative set of musical compositions. The collection is made up of short biographical essays for 43 composers, plus musical selections from all but one: Sappho, whose work is represented by two poetic fragments. The entries are presented chronologically, beginning with Sappho and continue through the centuries to Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964). Along the way, we also come across such luminaries as Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), Francesca Caccini (1587-1641), Marianna von Martines (1744-1812), Clara Wieck Schumann (1819-96), and Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-53). The essays, written by authorities, are uniformly well written and informative. Bottom Line Although there are other books about women composers, such as From Convent to Concert Hall: A Guide to Women Composers, edited by Sylvia Glickman and Martha Furman Schleifer, they tend to focus on biographical details. Briscoe's appears to be the only anthology of music composed by women. Recommended for all libraries. [A three-CD set that includes the music of many of the composers is available separately through the publisher (ISBN 0-253-34406-9).-Ed.]-Timothy J. McGee, Hastings, Ont. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.