Kathleen Shannon Tickets

music

Kathleen Shannon was an American musicologist, who made significant contributions to the study of Classical music. Born in 1910 in Oklahoma, Kathleen began her journey into Classical music after attending a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1926.

She pursued her education in music at Radcliffe College and earned a Master's degree from Boston University. Her academic achievements eventually led her to earn her doctorate from Harvard University, where she spent many years teaching and studying music history.

Her research focused primarily on 18th-century Italian opera, particularly the music of Christoph Willibald Gluck. She also contributed to the field of Renaissance music, writing about composers such as Josquin des Prez and Orlando di Lasso.

One of Kathleen's most notable contributions to the field of Classical music was her theory of musical form, which she outlined in her book "Thirty-Six Eighteenth-Century Menuets." In the work, she argued that menuets are structured according to a number of conventions, including their tonal structure and rhythmic patterns.

She also wrote extensively about the performance practice of Classical music, arguing that performers should adhere to the original intentions of the composer as much as possible when interpreting their music.

Despite her numerous accomplishments in the field of Classical music, Kathleen struggled with gender discrimination throughout her career. As a female scholar in a male-dominated field, she often encountered obstacles in gaining recognition for her research and theories.

Nonetheless, Kathleen persevered and continued to contribute to the field of Classical music throughout her life. Her legacy lives on today as scholars and musicians alike continue to study and perform the works of composers she studied and analyzed in depth.