When I first discovered some of the composers featured in this project, I struggled to find written and published works by many of them, as well as their biographies or even recordings of their music.
More recently, there seems to be a flurry of interest in these once obscure composers, and an eruption of effort to make their work more accessible and visible. Following, you’ll find a list of websites and resources where you can download published works of the composers featured so far, read about their lives, listen to performances of their music, or watch a documentary. And look out for live concerts that feature their music. They seem to be popping up all over the place these days, which is thrilling. Enjoy, and spread the word!
Florence Price:
A musical biography: https://www.wqxr.org/story/271521-musical-biography-florence-beatrice-price
Amy Beach:
Women Composers: a documentary about four composers, including Amy Beach: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7803112/
Mel Bonis:
Association Mel Bonis: https://www.mel-bonis.com/EN/Biographie/
Women Composers: a documentary about four composers, including Mel Bonis: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7803112/
Cecile Chaminade:
A short silent film clip of Cecile Chaminade receiving the Legion of Honor in 1913: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awg5KMAV5kE
Pauline Viardot:
The Europeans: Three Lives and the Making of a Cosmopolitan Culture http://www.orlandofiges.com/theEuropeans.php
Delphine von Schauroth:
A recording of Delphine’s complete surviving works: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mIuwgk7soDjQh81PSvH1XxwTW31AEE9xg
Songs Without Words piano music: https://www.oneeyepublications.com/product-page/delphine-von-schauroth-sechs-lieder-ohne-worte-op-18
Emilie Mayer:
For published scores by Emilie Mayer: https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Mayer,_Emilie
Listen to Piano Concerto in B-flat major by Emilie Mayer performed by FSOA https://youtu.be/K-bZUgAZ4Cw?si=bjhedah8BQ5zMQzU
Louise Farrenc:
There are many recordings of Farrenc’s works. Here is a live performance of her Symphony No. 3 by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra: https://youtu.be/f6oDjYlMV_Y?si=Yf4E-7E3gFlbYmeD
Discover more about Louise Farrenc and the initiative La Boîtes a Pepites, an effort to share the biographies and music of les compositrices. In French, with subtitles. https://youtu.be/I_-5LUzJYy8?si=tOhP9kHDmthM5IXq
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel:
A three-day celebration of the life and work of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, April 2027 in Berkeley, CA https://henselfest.org
Scores, arrangements, and everything Fanny Hensel: https://henselpushers.org
A fabulous documentary on Fanny Hensel: https://youtu.be/trmaU5seYfE?si=nHn23ncYJjfDHuAo
Maria Syzmanowska
A database and resource for all of her published scores: https://www.derekjmyler.com/szymanowska-database
Maria Anna Mozart
A documentary about Maria Anna Mozart currently featured on PBS: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/preview-mozarts-sister-xjwhq5/8060/
