Women and Musical Salons in the Enlightenment

Musical salons in Europe and North America between 1760 and 1800 were crucial in shaping their cultural environments. Women such as Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy, Marianna Martines, Sara Levy, Angelica Kauffman, and Elizabeth Graeme were salonnières who played a significant role in these salons. Rebecca Cypess's book explores the agency and authorship of these women, the roles of performing, collecting, listening, and conversing in the formation of eighteenth-century musical life, and uses performance as a research tool.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In the vibrant cultural landscapes of eighteenth-century Europe and North America, musical salons emerged as hubs of musical innovation and social interaction. These exclusive gatherings, hosted by influential women known as salonnières, played a pivotal role in shaping the musical world of their time. These salons served as a breeding ground for new styles, genres, and aesthetic ideals, fostering a vibrant exchange between professional musicians and their esteemed patrons, listeners, and performers. For the salonnière, these gatherings offered a unique space that blurred the boundaries between the public and private spheres, granting her the opportunity to exercise cultural agency and influence.

In her comprehensive book, "The Musical Salon: Women, Performance, and the Creation of Eighteenth-Century Musical Life," musicologist and historical keyboardist Rebecca Cypess delves into the world of musical salons, placing the salonnière at the center of her exploration. Cypess offers a broad overview of these gatherings, spanning from 1760 to 1800, providing a rich tapestry of musical experiences. Through a series of in-depth case studies, she brings to life the remarkable women who graced the salons of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Rome, and Philadelphia. These women, such as Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy, Marianna Martines, Sara Levy, Angelica Kauffman, and Elizabeth Graeme, emerge as multifaceted figures, their lives and contributions intricately woven into the fabric of eighteenth-century musical life.

One of the key strengths of Cypess's approach is her use of performance as a research tool. Drawing on her extensive experience with the instruments and performance practices of the eighteenth century, she offers insightful interpretations that shed light on the roles of women, reason, sentiment, and the various modes of performing, collecting, listening, and conversing in the formation of eighteenth-century musical culture. By examining the salonnières' performances and their interactions with their audiences, Cypess unravels the complex dynamics that shaped the musical landscape of the time.

"The Musical Salon" is an accessible and interdisciplinary work that appeals to a wide range of readers, including music enthusiasts, historians, and scholars of gender studies. It offers a fresh perspective on the role of women in the musical world of the eighteenth century, challenging traditional narratives and highlighting the agency and creativity of these remarkable individuals. Through her meticulous research and engaging writing style, Cypess invites us to explore the rich tapestry of musical life that flourished in the salons of Europe and North America, and to appreciate the profound impact that salonnières had on the development of music history.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226817910