Sounding Feminine: Women's Voices in British Musical Culture, 1780–1850: by David Kennerley, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2020, 240 pp., £61.00 (hardcover), ISBN 9780190097561.

"Sounding Feminine: Women's Voices in British Musical Culture, 1780–1850" by David Kennerley explores the social function of singing for women in the 19th century. The book challenges traditional narratives by examining the pragmatic and aspirational aspects of women's participation in musical culture. Kennerley's research reveals the impact of middle-class participation and evangelical revival on attitudes towards women's voices. The book analyzes prescriptive literature, concert behavior, criticism in the musical press, and the careers of professional singers to shed light on the cultural divisions of the time. The final chapter focuses on the challenges faced by female singers in the 1830s and 40s as they navigated changing expectations of femininity. Overall, the book offers a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of women's voices in British musical culture during this period. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Cultural & Social History is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)