Slovakian Female Composers and Rock Instrumentalists

Abstract

The paper discusses gender issues and the reception of female musicians in Slovakia. Using historical analysis, the author examines the establishment of, and behaviour towards, females in various genres from classical to jazz, alternative rock and electronic music. Whilst the acceptance of classical female composers began forty years ago, their jazz and rock counterparts were disadvantaged by a twenty-year delay. It was not until 2000 that female instrumentalists started to gain attention from audiences as drummers, bassists, or guitarists. Based on the evaluation of a survey of Slovakian alternative rock players, a study of their careers, and a comparison of selected artists, the writer analyses issues relating to the acceptance of female composers and instrumentalists in Slovakia. The vast majority of research participants, who are musically educated, identified market size as one of the barriers for female musicians. With regard to audience perception of females on stage, half of the respondents stated that gender predominates, and the rest, on the other hand, believed that the quality of music-making had a greater significance.