As early as the 1500s, a surprising number of women have composed classical music. Many were successful, finding venues for both publishing and performing their music; others found the social barriers for women impossible to overcome. This book provides access to these composers, both well known and obscure. Arranged chronologically by era, the profiles are further divided into countries. For each female composer within a country, a brief biographical sketch is provided, as well as a description of her body of work. This text also includes an extensive timeline of operatic works by female composers.

Mary F. McVicker, with degrees in law and finance, writes full-time in Oak Park, Illinois. She is the author of four previous books.

Mary F. McVicker
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 260
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, discography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4397-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-6218-6
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction      1

Source Abbreviations      4

ONE: THE RENAISSANCE TRANSITION, 1550–1600      5

Hildegard of Bingen      6

Italy      7

TWO: THE AGE OF HARMONY, 1600–1685      9

Italy      12

England      17

France      17

Germany      19

Switzerland      19

THREE: THE BAROQUE ERA, 1685–1750      20

Austria      21

France      21

Germany      22

Italy      23

FOUR: EARLY CLASSICAL, 1750–1800      26

Austria      30

Bohemia      35

Denmark      35

England      36

France 41;

Germany      51

Italy      55

Netherlands      57

United States      58

FIVE: THE BEETHOVEN WATERSHED, 1800–1840      59

Austria      61

Czechoslovakia      62

England      63

France      65

Germany 72;

Greece      81

Italy      81

Netherlands      82

Spain      83

SIX: ROMANTICISM, 1840–1880      84

Austria      88

Brazil      89

Czechoslovakia      90

England      91

France 96;

Germany      102

Greece      109

Ireland      109

Italy      109

Norway      111

Poland      112

Romania      113

Russia      113

Spain      115

Sweden      116

United States      117

SEVEN: IMPRESSIONISM AND ROMANTICISM, 1880–1900      120

Australia      124

Austria      125

Belgium      126

Canada      127

Cuba 127;

Denmark      128

England      129

Finland      137

France      137

Germany 140;

Hawaii      141

Ireland      141

Italy      142

Netherlands      145

Norway 146;

Poland      146

Romania      147

Scotland      147

Sweden      148

United States      149

Venezuela      156

EIGHT: INTO THE 20TH CENTURY      158

Australia      165

Austria      167

Belgium      170

Canada      171

Chile 173;

Croatia      174

Cuba      174

Czechoslovakia      175

Denmark 176;

England      177

France      183

Germany      190

Greece      191

Hungary      191

Ireland      192

Italy      192

Mexico      196

Netherlands      197

Norway      201

Poland      202

Romania      204

Russia      205

Spain      206

Switzerland      208

United States      208

Uruguay      223

Opera Timeline      225

Bibliography      237

Discography      241

Index      245

“a useful guide…recommended”—Booklist; “well-researched and well-written…recommend[ed]”—Feminist Collections; “an interesting overview of women composers through the centuries…recommended”—ARBA.