unCONVENTional: 17th Century italian Music Written by Women

In 17th century Italy, 13 cloistered nuns composed music for the women in their convent but published the music for male singers. Dr. Meredith Bowen, director of choral activities at Radford University, has edited and restored eight of these compositions for modern female choruses. She found the original published music in various libraries throughout the U.S. and Europe, then transcribed and restored them, using the historical documentation that composers from the time wrote on how to adapt SATB music for SSAA choirs.

She will present a lecture-recital, in conjunction with the Webster University Women’s Chorus, outlining the history of these composers and their work, as well as her process of creating editions that allow today’s choruses to give informed performances of these hidden gems.

Part of the Department of Music’s ThompsonTalk series, the talk will take place at 12:00 noon on Friday, March 2, in Winifred Moore Auditorium.