When does the book premiere take place?

The book premiere takes place on October 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The venue is Kottmann at HKP - The Literatourcafé at Neumarkt 1 in Gelsenkirchen.

Who presents the book?

Marit Rullmann and Werner Schlegel present the book Living in Tones - A Female Cultural History of Composing.

What musical accompaniment will there be?

Cathrin Gronenberg plays piano, Annette Merz plays violin, and Sandra Fülber takes on the soprano.

Which female composers are thematized?

The event focuses on Louise Farrenc, Lili Boulanger, Amy Beach, and Emilie Meyer, among many other female composers.

What is the entrance fee?

The event text mentions 10 euros at the box office and 8 euros in advance.

Marit Rullmann Reads in Gelsenkirchen 2026

Name: (Book) Premiere - Living in Tones - A Female Cultural History of Composing
Start: 2026-10-10T17:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-10T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Kottmann am HKP - Das Literatourcafé

Making Female Composers Visible: Book Premiere with Music in Gelsenkirchen

On October 10, 2026, the book Living in Tones – A Female Cultural History of Composing will be presented at the Literatourcafé Kottmann at HKP in Gelsenkirchen. Marit Rullmann and Werner Schlegel will guide through a musical cultural history that places female composers and their works at the center.

A Female Music History Beyond the Canon

The book gathers more than 40 biographies and traces the conditions under which women composed, gained recognition, and made their works public. The selection ranges from Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi through Louise Farrenc, Clara Schumann, and Lili Boulanger to Amy Beach, Florence Price, Emilie Mayer, and significant contemporary female composers.

The focus is not only on the individual life story. The authors also illuminate salon culture, piano music, music education, and the institutional barriers that shaped access to the classical canon. This results in an informed connection of biography, work analysis, and music history.

Reading Meets Chamber Music

The book presentation combines literary mediation with live music. Cathrin Gronenberg at the piano, Annette Merz on the violin, and Sandra Fülber as soprano complement the reading with chamber musical and vocal sound colors. This creates a special closeness in the reading atmosphere: language, voice, and instrumental sound enter into a lively dialogue.

A literary experience is to be expected for all who are interested in female composers, classical music, cultural history, and the rediscovery of marginalized or forgotten works. The musical design gives the presented life paths a sensual dimension and makes cultural connections immediately tangible.

Marit Rullmann and Werner Schlegel in Conversation with Music History

Marit Rullmann works as a bookseller, author, and lecturer in the Ruhr area. She has already initiated philosophical discussion formats and developed the Dachstubensalon together with Werner Schlegel. Werner Schlegel is a freelance author, journalist, lecturer, and editor with publications in literary magazines and anthologies.

Their joint work combines literary research with cultural historical contextualization. The event thus opens a space for questions of visibility, recognition, and the conditions of artistic production.

Conclusion: An Evening for Literature, Music, and New Perspectives

The book premiere offers a focused author encounter, a musical reading, and an informed perspective on female composers whose significance for music history wants to be newly acknowledged. Those who wish to experience linguistic art, chamber music, and cultural discourse together will find an inspiring evening full of discoveries at the Literatourcafé.