(Singers are omitted in both editions, for they compete only with other women in their own voice parts. Rather, the book concentrates on women composers, instrumentalists, conductors, orchestra and opera managers and music educators.) Succinct biographical sketches show the influences on - and influences of - hundreds of musicians. Since the publication of the first edition, women musicians have made some important strides. Students and scholars are increasingly interested in researching and writing the history of women in music. The outlook for today's musicians has also changed. An increasing number of women perform in first-rank orchestras, a handful of women conductors have gained national attention and individual instrumentalists have won recognition. Since 1983, three women have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their compositions, an award previously won only by men; similarly, in 1999 the Avery Fisher Prize was given to Sarah Chang. Pamela Frank and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, the first time in the history of the prize that any woman has been so acknowledged. As a result, some have suggested that Unsung is no longer an appropriate title for this book.
Still, Ammer maintains that given the perspective of two centuries, the achievements of women musicians are still largely overlooked.
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