Fadettes of Boston
The Fadettes of Boston (1888-ca.1920) was an all-women orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, and directed by Caroline B. Nichols. "The original group of six expanded to twenty by 1898"[1] with "a first violin and director, four additional first violins, four second violins, two violas, two violincellos, two contrabassos, kettle-drums and a bass, two flutes and piccolo, two clarinets, two cornets, two French horns, three trombones, snare-drum and 'traps,' and piano-forte."[2] The group incorporated in 1895 as "the Fadettes of Boston."[3]
In 1898 "vaudeville manager
The performers "wore shimmery gowns."[7] Among the musicians were Annie Andros Hawley,[8] Mildred Rogers,[5] and Lillian Thain (violin).[9] Nichols "conducted the orchestra for thirty years and trained over six hundred women for professional careers as orchestral musicians."[10]
Media
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Portrait of Carrie Nichols, conductor, ca.1897
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Portrait of Ethel Atwood, orchestra founder, business manager and musician, ca.1893
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Entrance toKeith's Theatre, Boston, with poster for the Fadettes, 1906
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Newspaper spread about the Fadettes,Pittsburgh Press, 1909
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Detail of promotional brochure, 1910
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Label of a Berliner Gramophone record; "Morning Serenade", played by the original quartet and recorded in Aug 10, 1897[11]
Variant names
References
- ^ a b Judith Tick. "Women as Professional Musicians in the United States, 1870-1900." Anuario Interamericano de Investigacion Musical, Vol. 9 (1973), pp. 95-133
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- ^ University of Iowa Libraries. The Fadettes Womans Orchestra of Boston brochure, ca.1910
- ^ Boehnlein. Victor G. The Gartland March. n.d. Boston, MA: Walter Jacobs, 1907. Print.
- ^ a b "Fadettes win approbation: women's orchestra delights admirers of good music at exposition." The Pittsburgh Press - Sep 20, 1902
- ^ Stan Singer. "Vaudeville in Los Angeles, 1910-1926: Theaters, Management, and the Orpheum." Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 61, No. 1 (Feb., 1992), pp. 103-113
- ^ Beth Abelson Macleod. "'Whence Comes the Lady Tympanist?' Gender and Instrumental Musicians in America, 1853- 1990." Journal of Social History, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Winter, 1993), pp. 291-308
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- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1943-09-04.
- ^ Mary Brown Hinely. "The Uphill Climb of Women in American Music: Performers and Teachers." Music Educators Journal, Vol. 70, No. 8 (Apr., 1984), pp. 31-35
- ^ "Berliner matrix 830. Morning serenade / Boston Fadettes Ladies Brass Quartette". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ WorldCat. Boston Fadettes Ladies Brass Quartette. Morning Serenade, recorded on Aug. 10, 1897.
- ^ Fadette Ladies' Orchestra, no.25 Winter Street. Boston Almanac, 1894
- ^ "Fadette Ladies' Orchestra ... Mrs. Carrie B. Nichols as leader and Miss Ethel Atwood business manager." cf. Public Opinion v.14, no.1, Oct. 8, 1892
Further reading
- "Fadettes took name from a Sands novel." The Pittsburgh Press - Jun 16, 1907
- Blanche Naylor, The Anthology of the Fadettes. Boston, 1937.
External links
- Johns Hopkins University, Levy Sheet Music Collection. Marie Louka (composer). The Fadettes; March & Two-Step. Philadelphia: World Publishing Co., 1904. "Dedicated to Mrs. Caroline B. Nichols, Director of the Fadettes of Boston, The Famous Ladies' Orchestra."