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female-composed music. the two study periods can also be seen when examin-
ing works based on historical style periods, as displayed
Year of Composition in Figure 4. Note that throughout this study, works are
Repertoire diversity extends beyond composer de- categorized strictly by their approximate date of com-
mographics and identity. Articles in previous issues of position, not by their adherence to stylistic elements
this journal, for example, have addressed a relative lack traditionally associated with period labels.
of historical repertoire performed at recent ACDA con- The only significant shifts can be seen in a relative
8
ferences. Findings from this study reveal a similar skew increase in twenty-first-century music alongside a rel-
toward more contemporary works. Across all sixteen ative decrease in late twentieth-century music; this is
schools, the average median composition age showed to be expected, since more twenty-first-century com-
no significant change between the two time periods, re- positions (namely, those written between July 2019 and
9
maining steady at approximately thirty-six years old, June 2023) would have been available for performance
with the median composition across the entire dataset in 2021–2023 than in 2017–2019. All other style pe-
being composed in 1997. Around 45% of all repertoire riods remained relatively stable, changing by less than
performed was composed in the twenty-first century, a percentage point in most cases, though Renaissance
and less than one quarter of the repertoire performed music saw its already small number of performances
was written prior to 1900. Relative consistency between cut nearly in half, from 4.1% of all repertoire per-

Figure 4. Performed Works by Historical Style Period

2017–2019

2021–2023

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1399 and earlier (Medieval)

1400–1600 (Renaissance)

1601–1750 (Baroque)
1751–1820 (Classical)

1821–1900 (Romantic)

1901–1960 (Early 20th Century)

1961–2000 (Late 20th Century)

2001– present (21st Century)

CHORAL JOURNAL September 2025 Volume 66 Number 2 17