WOMEN MUSIC MAKERS

Ten biographical sketches—of a 17th-century vocal-music composer; Clara Schumann; several 20th-century figures; et al.- -chiefly interesting for their pathways to becoming composers and the obstacles they faced in getting published and performed. Nichols's descriptions of styles and techniques will be clear even to the uninitiated, but her prose is merely serviceable (sometimes annoyingly slangy as well), and family backgrounds, at times going back two generations, are overdetailed. Why these particular composers were chosen is also unclear: Most are from this century; including performance artist Laurie Anderson is especially puzzling, since her work lies so far outside the mainstream represented by the others. Among the 24 women whose capsule biographies are appended, some are of a stature equal to the featured composers. A greater number of shorter biographies might have been more useful. Discography; bibliography; glossary; no index. Illustrations (portraits and photos) not seen. (Nonfiction. 12+)