Women in Percussion: An Investigation of Composers and Works in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

This article presents the results of a research project that surveyed works for solo orchestral percussion by Latin American and Caribbean women. In addition to inventorying, locating, and cataloging these works, we reflect on the invisibility and absence of female composers in the canonical concert music repertoire. Our aim is to facilitate access to the works of Latin American and Caribbean women composers and to contribute to overcoming gender inequality in the field of music. The research is qualitative and exploratory, drawing on various sources such as digital archives, journals, libraries, and direct contact with composers, publishers, and percussionists. The study engages with the literature on music and women, identifying two main issues: the invisibility of women as composers in music history and the challenges faced by women in musical practices, particularly in the field of percussion.