Conclusion

This history of women’s music in the southern United States—one taking into account regional practices—offers new perspectives into class, social aspirations, and gender; it differs substantially from composer-centric narratives. It is the first study to interrogate the impact of the Civil War on women’s music—how it affected repertory, performance circumstances, and careers. The dissimilar women examined here prove that a single, fixed signifier, such as cultural class, social status, parlor music, or domesticity cannot sufficiently account for southern women’s music practices. Gentility provides a more satisfactory explanation by allowing a nuanced examination of southern women—both white and of color—and their musicking.