Posted by Jessamyn on July 20, 1997 at 13:49:19:
In reply to Re: Men Making Music? posted by Caroline on July 20, 1997 at 09:47:40
] I get the feeling that the men tended towards strings, women piano and harp, but I cannot justify that.
Yes, I've read in various places that playing the violin (for example) was considered not quite nice for a woman. This has always amused me because I play the violin, and in fact work for a magazine for players of violin-family instruments. All the rising stars these days seem to be demure young Asian women.
It may be something as simple as the fact that it's very difficult to sing with a violin under your neck--but no, that wouldn't be a problem with the cello. It may be the faint gypsy connotation of the violin. Or perhaps it's because dancing-masters (who weren't very high up in society) almost invariably used violins.
With great effort I am refraining from rambling on about dancing masters' various portable and funky violins . . .
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