From the lines of Tuncay Yilmaz, State Artist and Arkas Trio Violin Virtuoso…
We owe it to Clara Zetkin so we can celebrate “March 8” as the day of International Working Women’s Day. It was Zetkin who proposed to declare March 8 as the day of International Working Women’s Day in the Second International in 1910. Since that day, and for 150 years, women have been keeping up their fight for equality, development and peace. It was first celebrated in Turkey on March 8, 1921.
Women’s Struggle is on Since 1790s
The female movement started to speak higher towards the end of the 18th century. It had a past before that too, but we know that this is when it started taking hold in Europe. Surely it was not a coincidence that this turned into a collective movement in the USA. There are also mentions that many artists and scientists composed songs for the men they were married to, under their own names… We can say that the processes of identity building, and claiming own skills and rights solidified in the last two centuries.
In the Age of Enlightenment, women gained the rights for voting, possession, divorce, performing certain professions and receiving higher education, along with a set of legal adjustments, albeit a bit late (at the beginning of the 19th century), thanks to the ideas called out by activists.
The changing order first started reflecting on various branches of art (i.e. literature, painting and music). The first name however, to draw attention to the matter in literature, was the very early Marietta Robusti, a 16th century artist, and she was requested to make appearances in various European courts. Feminism movement in literature was led by names like Mary Wallstone and Elisabeth Cady Stanton. 100 years later, Simone de Beauvior created an innovative idea of feminism, which went through.
It is also an established fact that the famous scientist Einstein contributed greatly to the common works he did with Elsa Einstein, his wife and a scientist as valuable as Einstein himself.
Another is example is Clara Schumann who became famous in Central Europe. She was the spouse of Robert Schumann, who enjoyed great success in music in the 19th century, both as a composer and as a pianist. Even though her close friendship with Brahms, another famous composer like her spouse, which later turned into a big love story, was subject to great criticism in the day, Clara Schumann managed to crown her success with her elegant and strong personality, a sophisticated culture and a unique worldview. The influencer behind the most important composers in history, Clara achieved to be a permanent name in the world of art.
Another good example is Fanny Mendelssohn, the sister of Felix Mendelssohn who was a famous composer in Central Europe. Despite her short life, she became a famous female composer and pianist thanks to her stunning piano virtuosity and composing skills, along with creating a revolution in the way piano is played. She contributed to the romantic music with her immortal works.
Women’s ability to create life and become mothers do not interfere with anything they would like to achieve in life. On the contrary, the most natural scenario is when the two genders share a life with the same rights and take the long road together. Let us rave about the International Women’s Day!
Important Note: Clara Schumann’s spectacular Piano Trio in G Minor was first performed in Turkey on 8 March 2015, in the International Women’s Week, by Arkas Trio in Izmir Adnan Saygun Arts Centre.
The first corporate trio in Turkey, Arkas Trio creates an unforgettable memory of its seventh anniversary for its fans with their Double CD. The group’s album Romantik Piyanolu Ucluler was released in major music markets alongside digital music platforms such as iTunes and Spotify. The trio’s first album features works from the Romantic Era. The first CD includes pieces by Joaquín Turina, Camille Saint-Saëns and Astor Piazzolla, while the second CD features works by Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms. Recorded in Izmir at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Centre under the technical supervision of Mehmet Can Ozer, the album carries the label of A.K. Muzik.