SLOVAKIAN FEMALE COMPOSERS AND ROCK INSTRUMENTALISTS: THEIR STATUS, SUCCESS AND PERSPECTIVES
SLOVAKIAN FEMALE COMPOSERS AND ROCK INSTRUMENTALISTS: THEIR STATUS, SUCCESS AND PERSPECTIVES

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses gender issues and the reception of female musicians in Slovakia.Using historical analysis, the author examines the establishment of, and behaviourtowards, females in various genres from classical to jazz, alternative rock andelectronic music. Whilst the acceptance of classical female composers began fortyyears ago, their jazz and rock counterparts were disadvantaged by a twenty-yeardelay. It was not until 2000 that female instrumentalists started to gain attentionfrom audiences as drummers, bassists, or guitarists. Based on the evaluationof a survey of Slovakian alternative rock players, a study of their careers, and acomparison of selected artists, the writer analyses issues relating to the acceptanceof female composers and instrumentalists in Slovakia. The vast majority of researchparticipants, who are musically educated, identified market size as one of the barriersfor female musicians. With regard to audience perception of females on stage, half ofthe respondents stated that gender predominates, and the rest, on the other hand,believed that the quality of music-making had a greater significance.

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