Doing Good, Performing Well? Media Evaluations of the Patronage and Performance Practices of Saxophonist Elise Hall (1853–1924)

Abstract

This article investigates the dual role of the French-American Elise Hall (1853–1924) as both a patron and one of the first saxophone soloists in history. By commissioning mainly leading European composers, Hall helped establish the saxophone as a new classical solo instrument at the turn of the twentieth century. Drawing on 43 press reviews from French and North American media between 1900 and 1927, this article examines how the media critically evaluated Hall’s contributions and framed her dual role as a patron and performer, particularly focusing on gendered perceptions of both the saxophone and her performances. By situating Hall within broader trends in female patronage, this article challenges conventional boundaries between patron and artist, illuminating women’s contributions to early twentieth-century music and offering a new perspective on the evolution of modern musical patronage and performance.