Who are the notable female composers?

[aintgotnorhythm]

I was stumped for a good answer when my daughter asked if there were any famous female composers. Any suggestions?

[birba]

Good question!  Clara Schumann is the only one that comes to mind at the moment...

[birba]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_composers_by_birth_year

[bleicher]

Historically, not very many. The ones that spring to mind are:

Germaine Tailleferre (French early 20th Century)
Elizabeth Lutyens (British mid 20th Century)
Ethyl Smyth (British early 20th Century)
Hildegard of Bingen (12th century)
and ones with famous husbands or brothers: Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Alma Mahler

Fortunately there are very many contemporary female composers. Established British composers include Judith Bingham, Roxanna Panufnik, Sally Beamish, Cecilia McDowall, Diana Burrell, Tansy Davies, Judith Weir, Alwynne Pritchard, Errollyn Wallen, Rebecca Saunders and Nicola LeFanu. I don't know as many overseas composers as I'm British, but ones who spring to mind are Kaija Saariaho (Finland), Unsuk Chin (Germany, originally from Korea), Jennifer Walshe, Mary Bellamy (Ireland) and Sofia Gubaidalina (Russia). I'm sure between us all on Piano Street we can think of many more!

[stevebob]

The list in birba's link is comprehensive, but it doesn't distinguish the better-known names from the more obscure ones.  The most familiar female composers of the common practice period are, in my opinion, Cécile Chaminade, Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann and Amy Beach (aka Mrs. H.H.A. Beach).

[bleicher]

Yes, it was a rather random list, I know! I work in music so know a lot of composers.

I'd heard of Chaminade but didn't realise she was a woman! Also well done for remembering Amy Beach.

When I was young I thought Bela Bartok was female because I assumed that Bela was a girl's name.

[thalbergmad]

For much of my life, I thought Beryl Rubinstein was a woman, so I cannot include him now.

At the moment, I am investigating Blahetka. Check this out.

Thal

[john11inc]

Sofia Gubaidulina, Galina Ustvolskaya, Kaija Saariaho, Betsy Jolas, Isabel Mundry, Unsuk Chin, Ana-Maria Avram and Olga Neuwirth are the greatest examples of female composers, in my opinion.  Just don't expect hugs and daisies out of their music.

[john11inc]

Olga Neuwirth:

Galina Ustvolskaya:

Sofia Gubaidulina:

Kaija Saariaho:

Betsy Jolas:

Ana-Maria Avram:

Isabel Mundry:

Unsuk Chin:

[Bob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Tower

[gsmonks]

You're an embarrassing lot, considering the growing awareness of things feminine in this day and age (said tongue-in-cheek).

Clara Schumann
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel
Elena Kats-Chernin
Hildegaard of Bingen
Amy Marcy Beach (especially her famous "Gaelic" Symphony)
Judith Lang Zaimont
Ethel Smith
Rebecca Clarke
Louise Ferrenc
Rachel Portman
Joan Tower
Margaret Brouwer
Barbara Pentland
Jean Coulthard
My fingers grow tired, but I could fill a page or two . . .

[retrouvailles]

I feel that too many female composers over the years have been given too much credit for just being women, rather than being justly judged for their musical worth. I am thinking of the *many* female composers of the Romantic era who simply should just fade into history, such as Beach, Chaminade, and Clara Schumann, who didn't do anything revolutionary, but composed music that is probably as notable as that of John Field. The last 50 years have yielded female composers that are a bit more notable, but I feel generally the same way. I am thinking of composers like Joan Tower and Jennifer Higdon, who I believe will not stand the test of time, despite being very popular these days for composing very accessible and likable music with little lasting musical content. Here's to hoping that the true female masters like Gubaidulina, Saariaho, Chin, and others last the test of time.

[john11inc]

I feel that too many female composers over the years have been given too much credit for just being women, rather than being justly judged for their musical worth. I am thinking of the *many* female composers of the Romantic era who simply should just fade into history, such as Beach, Chaminade, and Clara Schumann, who didn't do anything revolutionary, but composed music that is probably as notable as that of John Field. The last 50 years have yielded female composers that are a bit more notable, but I feel generally the same way. I am thinking of composers like Joan Tower and Jennifer Higdon, who I believe will not stand the test of time, despite being very popular these days for composing very accessible and likable music with little lasting musical content. Here's to hoping that the true female masters like Gubaidulina, Saariaho, Chin, and others last the test of time.

Quoted for truth.

[djealnla]

I feel that too many female composers over the years have been given too much credit for just being women, rather than being justly judged for their musical worth. I am thinking of the *many* female composers of the Romantic era who simply should just fade into history, such as Beach, Chaminade, and Clara Schumann, who didn't do anything revolutionary, but composed music that is probably as notable as that of John Field. The last 50 years have yielded female composers that are a bit more notable, but I feel generally the same way. I am thinking of composers like Joan Tower and Jennifer Higdon, who I believe will not stand the test of time, despite being very popular these days for composing very accessible and likable music with little lasting musical content. Here's to hoping that the true female masters like Gubaidulina, Saariaho, Chin, and others last the test of time.

Although I'm a girl, I tend to think this way about Hélène Grimaud; she's arguably a fine pianist, but not remotely worthy of the praise she gets, which she receives merely because of her "pretty face" (IMHO).

The point of recapitulation in the first movement of the Ninth is one of the most horrifying moments in music, as the carefully prepared cadence is frustrated, damming up energy which finally explodes in the throttling murderous rage of a rapist incapable of attaining release. -- Susan McClary

The Ninth Symphony is probably our most compelling articulation in music of the contradictory impulses that have organized patriarchal culture since the Enlightenment. -- Susan McClary

Posted for controversy. 

For a bit of contrast:

Moreover, women performers are quite shameless and unscrupulous in the way in which they so constantly trail the sexual redherring across the path of the public’s better judgment. The smirks, the mops and mows, the frank appeal to the basely sentimental side of the public’s nature, which can never resist the “charming girl” business, are simply so many devices to distract attention from musical shortcomings. [...] Most of our women pianists and violinists have physiques that can only be described as miserable, narrow-chested, shallow bodies, bad carriage, emaciated arms, undeveloped muscles, feeble tissues; they look like the poor, mean, thin, pinched, anæmic sounds they produce from their instruments—pale, wan changelings of tone. They can in the very nature of things do no better, but it is preposterous even for such people to expect to become great players, or even good second-raters. [...] The physical weakness communicates itself to the playing, inevitably and inexorably, with the result that we get the feeble, debile, thoroughly depressing and sickly playing that ninety-nine out of a hundred women give us. -- Kaikhosru Sorabji, “Against Women Instrumentalists”, in Around Music, 138-39, 139, 140.

[minor9th]

I like Lera Auerbach--she's a fine pianist and composer.

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

[ahinton]

Moreover, women performers are quite shameless and unscrupulous in the way in which they so constantly trail the sexual redherring across the path of the public’s better judgment. The smirks, the mops and mows, the frank appeal to the basely sentimental side of the public’s nature, which can never resist the “charming girl” business, are simply so many devices to distract attention from musical shortcomings. [...] Most of our women pianists and violinists have physiques that can only be described as miserable, narrow-chested, shallow bodies, bad carriage, emaciated arms, undeveloped muscles, feeble tissues; they look like the poor, mean, thin, pinched, anæmic sounds they produce from their instruments—pale, wan changelings of tone. They can in the very nature of things do no better, but it is preposterous even for such people to expect to become great players, or even good second-raters. [...] The physical weakness communicates itself to the playing, inevitably and inexorably, with the result that we get the feeble, debile, thoroughly depressing and sickly playing that ninety-nine out of a hundred women give us. -- Kaikhosru Sorabji, “Against Women Instrumentalists”, in Around Music, 138-39, 139, 140.
[/quote]
I really do think that he ought to have know better than to have written like that; he did, however, name a few in his other writing whom he took to be exceptions to this, such as Guilhermina Suggia, Alannah Delias and Eileen Joyce - and, far more recently, he cited Martha Argerich as the kind of pianist that one would never credit was a woman from her playing unless you just happened to know who she was...

Best,

Alistair

[prongated]

I like Lera Auerbach--she's a fine pianist and composer.

...hmm...just came home from an evening of Kavakos and Pace performing a selection of the Auerbach Preludes. I understand she's probably the most celebrated and famous living woman composer today. I don't understand how it can be compared, let alone regarded, to the likes of Bach's, Chopin's, and Shostakovich's. I don't know - what do people here think of her?

Although I'm a girl, I tend to think this way about Hélène Grimaud; she's arguably a fine pianist, but not remotely worthy of the praise she gets, which she receives merely because of her "pretty face" (IMHO).

Incidentally I do think she has much artistic worth. Not a truly virtuosic pianist perhaps, but I did enjoy a recent recital of hers. Controversial on occassion, but perhaps that's a good sign - it will always be interesting to hear!

I feel that too many female composers over the years have been given too much credit for just being women, rather than being justly judged for their musical worth. I am thinking of the *many* female composers of the Romantic era who simply should just fade into history, such as Beach, Chaminade, and Clara Schumann, who didn't do anything revolutionary, but composed music that is probably as notable as that of John Field. The last 50 years have yielded female composers that are a bit more notable, but I feel generally the same way. I am thinking of composers like Joan Tower and Jennifer Higdon, who I believe will not stand the test of time, despite being very popular these days for composing very accessible and likable music with little lasting musical content. Here's to hoping that the true female masters like Gubaidulina, Saariaho, Chin, and others last the test of time.

Saariaho is a composer whose viola trio I will be attempting very soon - and on the surface of it the work looks very well-written to me. Nonetheless, curiously, in what way do you regard her works to be masterful? I wonder, too, what you (or in fact anyone else here really) think of Rebecca Clarke? (of course, to my mind the viola sonata in particular...)

[retrouvailles]

Saariaho is a composer whose viola trio I will be attempting very soon - and on the surface of it the work looks very well-written to me. Nonetheless, curiously, in what way do you regard her works to be masterful? I wonder, too, what you (or in fact anyone else here really) think of Rebecca Clarke? (of course, to my mind the viola sonata in particular...)

I don't know Saariaho's trio, but I really do enjoy much of the music I have heard of hers. She writes in a relatively thorny style that has roots in French spectralism and has an almost impressionist feel, but it still has teeth to go with it. A lot of her early works combine electronics, but she seems to be moving away from that. Her music still has very complex textures and timbres, but it is always very appealing and begs for further listens. It can seem overwhelming on the page, but it doesn't sound like that in performance when done well.

As far as Rebecca Clarke goes, I happen to really like that popular Viola Sonata, but I don't know a ton of her works. I do like what I have heard, and I think she needs to be given credit for being sort of the "first lady" of viola repertoire.

[richard black]

Did anyone mention Lili Boulanger? Marvellous composer (of rather little quantity, since she died at some horribly early age, 22 or something).

Rebecca Clarke: one of the finest song composers of the early 20th century. And yes, her viola pieces are lovely too.

Someone mentioned Joan Tower - I did a piece by her for clarinet and piano, 'Those Harbour Lights', which I thought was very fine.

[john11inc]

I understand [Auerbach's] probably the most celebrated and famous living woman composer today.

Absolutely not.

[ahinton]

Absolutely not.

Indeed! What an absurd statement - and one which is in any case by definition impossible to verify. How could anyone possibly provide proof that anyone is "the most celebrated and famous living woman composer"? (and, even if it were possible, the candidate would most certainly not be that one!)...

Best,

Alistair

[prongated]

Indeed! What an absurd statement - and one which is in any case by definition impossible to verify. How could anyone possibly provide proof that anyone is "the most celebrated and famous living woman composer"? (and, even if it were possible, the candidate would most certainly not be that one!)...

Best,

Alistair

It's the impression I get, justified (if you like) by the fact her works seem to be the most regularly performed by some of the very best artists today (Kavakos, Kremer...), by the number of commissions from and performances in some of the most prestigious music festivals, and a truly extensive opus catalogue. Please tell me otherwise if these are not reasons how one such person is not a celebrated living composer (figuratively speaking)! I mean, I'm sorry but I don't know anyone else living and writing today who can boast such a career!

But of course, that is not to say she is a most accomplished composer. And in fact, this is why I wonder what people here think of her works, because I do not find her preludes for violin and piano at all remarkable, let alone revolutionary and ground-breaking! Just seems like another overrated artist whose oeuvre don't match the reputation presently garnered...

[ahinton]

It's the impression I get, justified (if you like) by the fact her works seem to be the most regularly performed by some of the very best artists today (Kavakos, Kremer...), by the number of commissions from and performances in some of the most prestigious music festivals, and a truly extensive opus catalogue. Please tell me otherwise if these are not reasons how one such person is not a celebrated living composer (figuratively speaking)! I mean, I'm sorry but I don't know anyone else living and writing today who can boast such a career!

The fact that you do not know this does not of itself signify that there are no other contemporary women composers who could boast such a career if they felt like boasting in the first place, does it? Do you have sufficient reliable comparative statistics about her and, say, half a dozen other widely performed contemporary women composers to show beyond doubt that LA's performance/commissions/etc. profile is significantly higher than any of the others?

But of course, that is not to say she is a most accomplished composer. And in fact, this is why I wonder what people here think of her works, because I do not find her preludes for violin and piano at all remarkable, let alone revolutionary and ground-breaking! Just seems like another overrated artist whose oeuvre don't match the reputation presently garnered...

All the more reason why I would have thought you might have considered questioning your own assumption that she's the most celebrated female composer alive! I don't happen to find anything of hers that I've heard (not that I've heard a lot) to be of particular interest either.

Best,

Alistair

[prongated]

The fact that you do not know this does not of itself signify that there are no other contemporary women composers who could boast such a career if they felt like boasting in the first place, does it? Do you have sufficient reliable comparative statistics about her and, say, half a dozen other widely performed contemporary women composers to show beyond doubt that LA's performance/commissions/etc. profile is significantly higher than any of the others?

I trust my perception enough to say that she is the most "celebrated" female composer alive today. Please, enlighten me and show me if there is any such composer whose works get the amount of exposure that LA's do! I said what I said because I would see her name significantly more than any others in so many programs of the world's biggest summer music festivals. And locally, in the program of artists who have and will come to perform in my school's recital hall (Aimard, Grimaud, Hahn, Kavakos), only LA's works feature in one of them - no other living composer is represented.

Granted, it is hardly factual. However, I never claimed (or I don't think I did) that it is anything more than my impression. Besides, there are many truths that does not need to (and indeed, sometimes cannot) be rationalised to such extent. But that's just what I believe. It's hardly factual too In any case, I guess "celebrated" is not the most precise word to describe such a person. Figuratively, I'm not necessarily saying her works warrant whatever stature she enjoys today.

All the more reason why I would have thought you might have considered questioning your own assumption that she's the most celebrated female composer alive! I don't happen to find anything of hers that I've heard (not that I've heard a lot) to be of particular interest either.

Thanks for sharing what you think! Care to elaborate a bit more? The reason I asked is because I don't consider myself well-versed in contemporary music. While I don't think much of her works at all, I may very well be missing something, in which case I would like to learn what it is that I'm missing. In any case, I hope to be enlightened by people who are more familiar with such works, or just happens to have particular opinions about them.

[ahinton]

I trust my perception enough to say that she is the most "celebrated" female composer alive today. Please, enlighten me and show me if there is any such composer whose works get the amount of exposure that LA's do! I said what I said because I would see her name significantly more than any others in so many programs of the world's biggest summer music festivals. And locally, in the program of artists who have and will come to perform in my school's recital hall (Aimard, Grimaud, Hahn, Kavakos), only LA's works feature in one of them - no other living composer is represented.

Granted, it is hardly factual. However, I never claimed (or I don't think I did) that it is anything more than my impression. Besides, there are many truths that does not need to (and indeed, sometimes cannot) be rationalised to such extent. But that's just what I believe. It's hardly factual too In any case, I guess "celebrated" is not the most precise word to describe such a person. Figuratively, I'm not necessarily saying her works warrant whatever stature she enjoys today.

Thanks for sharing what you think! Care to elaborate a bit more? The reason I asked is because I don't consider myself well-versed in contemporary music. While I don't think much of her works at all, I may very well be missing something, in which case I would like to learn what it is that I'm missing. In any case, I hope to be enlightened by people who are more familiar with such works, or just happens to have particular opinions about them.

OK - so it's just your impression; fair enough. For other examples, what about Saariaho? or even Higdon? Or Augusta Read Thomas, who has had her work conducted by Boulez, Barenboim and others? I don't much care for Saariaho or Higdon either, so what I'm writing here is nothing to do with personal bias, let alone favouritism. Thomas, on the other hand writes very colourful and engaging music that appeals to me.

As to women composers who are no longer with us, I echo Richard Black's remark about Lili Boulanger; despite her elder sister having taught so many famous composers, Lili herself remains well under-appreciated. Her corpus of work is indeed small, on account of her persistent poor health and early death (at age 24) but it shows that, like her elder compatriot Duparc, even so tiny an output can still make a significant mark. She was the first woman composer to win the Prix de Rome and also, I think, the youngest (at age 19). Her music is well worth getting to know. The Irish / British composer Elisabeth Maconchy is another who remains severely underplayed, although her output is much larger; she was the first woman to chair the Composers' Guild of Great Britain and also, I believe the first to be president of the Society for the Promotion of New Music in Britain. The backbone of her work is a series of 13 masterly string quartets.

I don't remember when I last saw LA's name in BBC's Radio Times; in fact, I don't even remember seeing it there at all (although I could have missed it at some point, I imagine).

Best,

Alistair

[john11inc]

Didn't even try to stop myself; I knew it would be a waste of time.  No way was I passing that opportunity up.

[thalbergmad]

Betsy Jolas

The only one on your list that I have heard of and only because I came across her name on a concerto hunt.

I normally run a mile from this kind of music, but this lady held me captive although I have no idea why.

No hugs and kisses as you say, but I find some of it strangely erotic.

Thal

[djealnla]

concerto hunt

I wonder what such a thing looks like.

[ahinton]

I wonder what such a thing looks like.

I cannot tell you with certainty but I imagine that it would not involve packs of dogs, toffs on horseback with more money than sense or indeed any kinds of fox (if I may be permitted to say the last of those three things in this context)...

Best,

Alistair

[ch101]

clara schumann is one of the most underrated composers of the romantic movement.

[m1469]

Female composers?  Never heard of him.

[retrouvailles]

Female composers?  Never heard of him.

You bumped a month dead thread for a bad joke? For shame, m1469.

[thalbergmad]

Mona McBurney

[m1469]

.

[retrouvailles]

Sorry, I don't get the joke. 

I can't help you there. You made the joke.

[m1469]

I can't help you there. You made the joke.

Actually, I simply organized a thought, comprised of six words and two punctuation marks, which, over the course of my experience in life very adequately reflects what I perceive as the general level of being in mankind, and, as I see it, you are, in fact, the one who apparently perceived within that enough intended comicalness to call it a joke.

[retrouvailles]

Actually, I simply organized a thought, comprised of six words and two punctuation marks, which, over the course of my experience in life very adequately reflects what I perceive as the general level of being in mankind, and, as I see it, you are, in fact, the one who apparently perceived within that enough intended comicalness to call it a joke.

Very funny, smart ass. I'm done with you.


Anyone else care to actually comment on the topic?

[m1469]

Very funny, smart ass.

 
 Thank you very much !!

I'm done with you.

But, I didn't even get a chance to pull out the big guns yet!

Anyone else care to actually comment on the topic?

I have rarely seen a thread dedicated to women musicians of any sort (for any "seeming" reason), nor hardly even a post, nor even a small sentiment on this board (with the exception of a few), that did not have the seeming purpose of actually riling women up, or actually putting them down.  One of the few exceptions was when Marik brought up Agi Jambor, not because she's a woman, not because of how she looks, not because of any other reason than the way she sounds.  I think almost the only other time I have seen a post or thread or sentiment be purely about musical achievements, was what I understand Bernhard's thoughts to have been towards Rosalyn Tureck.

Apologies for expressing several layers of thinking on the subject, in the context of this forum, in such a concise way, previously, and it not being to your standard.

*bows*

[tds]

Just don't expect hugs and daisies out of their music.