Instruments For Women In Victorian England

[allan atlas]

FOLKS: a few threads ago (i have no idea where it's buried) there was a brief discussion about which instruments were considered suitable for women in victorian england. . . . . .someone mentioned that the violin was among them. . . . .i thought no and tried to present at least a little bit of evidence -- drawn from fiction -- to support my opinion

 

for what it's worth: when the Royal Academy of Music (England's first conservatory) was founded in 1823, the decision was made TO ADMIT women students. . . . .however, they were permitted to study only voice, piano, or harp. . . . . .though things eventually loosened up, the violin was NOT generally considered a woman's instrument, especially among amateurs

 

the information about the RAM comes from William W. Cazalet, The History of the Royal Academy of Music (London, 1854), which, despite the date, is still an extremely reliable source........................