Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman

work by Tower

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

"Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman" is a musical composition by American composer Joan Tower. Composed in 1987, it is one of three fanfares she wrote, inspired by Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man". Tower's fanfare is characterized by its powerful and triumphant sound, intended to celebrate the achievements of women. It is a significant work in her orchestral repertoire, known for its colorful and dynamic style.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Joan Tower
…orchestral compositions included Sequoia (1981), Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman (1987), and Silver Ladders (1987). For the latter work, Tower became the first woman to receive the Grawemeyer Award. She also wrote concertos for clarinet (1988), oboe (1989), flute (1989), piano (1985 and 1996), violin (1991), percussion (2001), and bassoon…
Read More
…orchestral compositions included Sequoia (1981), Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman (1987), and Silver Ladders (1987). For the latter work, Tower became the first woman to receive the Grawemeyer Award. She also wrote concertos for clarinet (1988), oboe (1989), flute (1989), piano (1985 and 1996), violin (1991), percussion (2001), and bassoon…
Read More