women's history: take 2

The program by Spectra Choir had been specially curated for their International Women's Day Concert to highlight the creativity of females.

We were told all fifteen songs and six poems had been written by women.

However, as it turned out, some of the songs were co-written by women with men, not solely as a female effort.

That's okay, though, as all were performed today by women.

I would have preferred that the charity which benefited had been focused on women, but that was not the case.

That's okay, too, as I was there for the free annual concert!

Held at Asbury Memorial Church, I was sure to enjoy it... and I did!

 

I managed to find the perfect seat by the left wall, with a clear line of sight for the "Flute Sonata Opus 64", performed by Erika Andres, a classical piece written in 1904 by Mel Bonis, one of the first female symphonists.

She was 46 years old.

Although she was educated at the Paris Conservatoire and did well, she married an older man who put her to work caring for his children from another, as well as for the three children he had with her.

I'm sure that was a common story back then in women's history.  

Here in the United States, we had Margaret Bonds, the first black female composer, who would go on to become the first woman - of an race - to win three awards from ASCAP - wow!

Today, Julia Tucker played "Troubled Water", written by Bonds in 1967 when she was 57 years old, based on the gospel tune "Wade In The Water".

 

Don't get the impression that only older works were performed, though.

Here's the popular local singer, Laiken Love, pouring her energy into "Flowers", a song cowritten by Miley Cyrus and released in 2023.

"I can buy myself flowers, I can write my name in the sand... I can take myself dancing, I can hold my own hand..." - all about self-sustainability!  

That could practically be my theme song!

Of course I sang along with her.

(smile!)

I sang along with Beverly Jaques, too, as she sang "Up On The Roof", a song cowritten by Carole King in 1962.

Beverly said she was a teenager then and the songs from the twenty-something New York woman meant a lot to her.

They meant a lot to me, too, a decade later when I was a teen... and the songs still resonate with me, as I've mentioned in the past.

The highlight of the concert was this: there were two original pieces that made their world premiere today!!!

Here in Savannah!!!

The woman standing is Chelsea Olsen, the writer of "Love Is The Only Way".

The women had all squatted down so she could stand out as she introduced the piece she had composed using her harmonium...

then they all stood up as they performed alongside her!

Very catchy folk-type song!

The other world premiere was performed solo, by the writer, Cadence Mefford.

Titled "Glass Vase", it spoke to society's penchant for holding women to high beauty standards that are emotionally destructive.

I liked that one, too.

I liked all the songs, truly, at this two-hour concert, though I admit that I preferred the ones I knew, so I could sing along.

Those included Dolly Parton's "Wildflowers", KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See", and Nancy Grundahl's "Oh, Be Swift".

However, I enjoyed the new songs, including Florence and the Machine's "King", the Highwomen's "Crowded Table", and Sia's "Alive".

That last one was performed fiercely by Amanda Ortiz!

I do hope she will become active in local musicals! 

(smile!)