The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
A portrait of a young Amy Beach.This weekend the National Symphony invited me to an evening at Strathmore (Washington area) entitled “Women Pioneers.”
The host was Madeleine Albright.
The program included
Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the common man”
Joan Tower’s “Fanfare for the uncommon women”
Saint-Saëns “Introduction and Rondo capriccioso”
Amy Beach’s “Grand Mass in e flat major”
Violinist Chee-Yun performed the solo part of Saint-Saëns “Introduction and Rondo capriccioso,” originally composed for Pablo de Sarrasate, the Spanish virtuoso …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Just in time for the European royalty media feast, we found at a library book sale the diaries of a female ruler – Christina of Sweden – who had no interest in marriage (Scholastics series, by Carolyn Meyer).
Enjoy the story of Christina of Sweden (1626-1689).
Finally, after several miscarriages, Gustav Adolf II of Sweden and his German wife Eleanore had their first and only child Christina. A prophecy predicted the child would be a son. …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Remember last week when Amy posted a blog piece about Rachel Maddow’s “aha” moment. Quite a few of the readers were annoyed by the arrogance to the point that the accomplishments of the female Republican Wyoming state senators were overshadowed in the discussion.
In contrast to some guys at NBC, Rachel made up for it. She cut the East Coast Metro type arrogance and did a follow up interview, highlighting the successes of State …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
I am giving the book “the Lady Queen” by Nancy Goldstone the forth time for a birthday gift. It occurred to me, that the reading on a real queen in the 14th century should paint a good contrast to recent press on the queen-like life of our first lady.
Here an excerpt from the book cover: “Amid intrigue, betrayal, and conspiracy, Joanna I of Sicily became the only female monarch of her day to rule …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
“I want to show the world as much as I can in this profession of music, the vein error of men, that they alone possess the gifts of intellect and artistry, and that such gifts are never given to women.”
Maddalena Casulana (1544-1590)
“Clara has composed a series of small pieces, which show a musical and tender ingenuity such as she has never attained before. But to have children, and a husband who is always living …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
In everyday life, in conversations and in big politics the topic of sexual violence is usually not a really big theme and hardly ever mentioned. It is kind of counter intuitive to the youth culture where sex = fun. The part of sex as power tool is blended out. And if a particular bad case rises to the surface as with the Polanski capture in Switzerland (see previous blog by …