Unbounded: Music by American Women: Dawn Wohn, violin ♦ Emely Phelps, piano. AMY BEACH (1867–1944) Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Minor, Op. 34 (1896) ; DOROTHY RUDD MOORE (1940–2022) : Three Pieces for Violin and Piano (1967) ; JENNIFER HIGDON (b. 1962) : 8. Smoky Mountain Air (2021) ; IRENE BRITTON SMITH (1907–1999) : Sonata for Violin and Piano (1947).

Description: There is no denying that historically, female composers have faced challenges. Amy Beach was unable to take composition lessons or have a performing career for most of her life, as it was deemed improper for a married woman. The two Black composers on this album, Dorothy Rudd Moore and Irene Britton Smith, faced further struggles for widespread recognition during their lifetimes, due to the classical world’s long reluctance to admit works by minority composers into the performing canon. In an ideal world, there would be no need to call attention to the race or gender of these composers. In doing so, my concern is that the composers or their works will be overshadowed or grouped together by those labels. Just as Moore cautioned against typecasting, stating that “there are many Black artists in all disciplines and each is an individual with his or her unique experiences,” it is important to listen to and recognize each composer as an individual. (Dawn Wohn)