On International Women’s Day

I was listening to Radio 3. Mrs Kanneh-Mason, the mother of Sheku and other talented young musicians, posed the question, “Can you name ten female composers?”

I had to rack my brains to do so.

1. Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, composer of “Sequences and Hymns” in Medieval Latin, during the 12th century. A time when an Abbess had authority and status, denied to women in later centuries.

2. Fanny Mendelssohn. I had to jump 700 years to the 19th century when I thought of Fanny, the sister of Mendelssohn, who was discouraged from composing as it was not lady-like. She wrote music, including songs, some of which may have appeared under her brother’s name.

3. Clara Schumann, wife of Robert. A virtuoso pianist and composer.

4. Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944), an English composer of a wide range of music, including opera.

5. Nadia Boulanger, twentieth century Parisian composer, conductor, teacher, pianist and organist.

6. Lili Boulanger, the younger sister of Nadia.

7. Florence Price (1887-1953), an American of mixed race and composer of major orchestral works.

8. Elizabeth Maconchy, twentieth century English composer, famous for string quartets.

9. Roxanna Panufnik, a British composer and daughter of the Polish musician, Andrezej. One of her works was performed at the coronation service of King Charles.

10. Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music 2014-2024.

I could have added Errollyn Wallen, appointed as Master of the King’s Music by King Charles in 2024, the first black person to hold that post. I also thought of Debbie Wiseman, known mainly for many TV and film themes.

“Can I quickly can I name ten male composers with surname beginning with B?”

Very quickly. J S Bach, C P E Bach, J C Bach, W F Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Arnold Bax, Max Bruch, Samuel Barber.

I then thought of female composers of popular pop music. A few came to mind: Taylor Swift, Carole King, Nina Simone, Françoise Hardy, Enya, Adele, Stevie Nicks, and Christine MacVie. Do the female singers who compose their own songs have the greatest success? It seems so.

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