I would never say that Isabette’s story is anything like Clara’s however, I will say that Isabette’s story is inspired by Clara’s.

Q: Which, if any, real-life female composers inspired Isabette’s character? How are they remembered today?Ī: Isabette is a composite (so to speak) of several composers of the period, most notably Clara Schumann. Women were not encouraged to pursue any profession their principal role was to marry and have children. The fact that Isabette is a woman increases the level of social disapproval, but it’s really just a question of degree. How many times is an artist, composer, writer, etc., asked in our own time “What do you do for a living?” The implication is that the arts are all very well to pursue as hobbies, but they can hardly be considered “real” professions. Then as now, the arts are not considered a particularly respectable way to make a living. In the novel, Josef Hauser’s father disapproves of him being a composer - a situation not unlike that faced by Franz Schubert. Even men had a great deal of difficulty pursuing music as a profession. However, being a good pianist to entertain guests is one thing becoming a professional musician, much less a composer, was quite another. Most young women of the middle and upper classes were given musical training and those with talent were often encouraged to perform in public. In fact, music was probably one of the few areas where women had a chance to shine. Why did female composers of the age face such scrutiny when making their art?Ī: I think women of the period faced a great deal of opposition in many professions, not just music. Q: The story’s protagonist, Isabette Grüber, is a young pianist who wishes to compose her own music - much to the dismay and disappointment of her mother, peers and others in her life. Westcoast Homes & Design Previous IssuesĪ: I occasionally chatted with Paul about the composing process and he read some of the early drafts.Vancouver Sun Run: Sign up & event info.

The Towers of Tuscany by Carol M. Cram