Female Composers: Recommended Reading & Resources
Read my other articles in this series: Why Learn About Female Composers? and Changing the Narrative: Awareness & Advocacy of Female Composers.
We have just concluded a month-long Female Composers Challenge to celebrate Women’s History Month. We learned about 31 female composers throughout history and listened to some of their music. We also took on the challenge of sight-reading one piece by a female composer each day of the month.
My hope for all who participated in this challenge, as well as for other music & piano teachers, is that you will continue to discover more female composers. I have discovered that once you start to learn about them it ignites a passion inside you on the subject! I am constantly discovering new female composers and putting their music in a playlist so that I can keep on listening and learning about talented composers.
Here is a recommended reading list of great resources that I have used to learn about female composers. I also think that one of the best things you can do is to simply start listening, and start playing. Just go to YouTube or your favorite music streaming app and type in the name of a female composer and start listening to their music. Hop onto imslp.org and download some music by women and start playing.
Recommended Reading & Other Female Composers Resources
Books About Female Composers
The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers
Sounds and Sweet Airs by Anna Beer
Women Composers: The Lost Tradition Found by Diane Peacock Jezic
From Spirituals to Symphonies: African-American Women Composers and Their Music by Helen Walker-Hill
Unsung: A History of Women in American Music by Christine Ammer
Stories of Women Composers for Young Musicians by Catherine Wolff Kendall
Other Resources
Women Composers Database by the Kapralova Society
Recommended Sheet Music by Female Composers
At the Piano with Women Composers, edited by Maurice Hinson
The Life and Music of Amy Beach: The First Woman Composer of America by Gail Smith
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel Piano Music
Sonata in E Minor by Florence Price
Alma Deutscher: From My Book of Melodies
Piano Sonatas and Etudes by Hélène de Montgeroult on imslp.org (click on “Books” tab for Etudes)
Music by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel on imslp.org (I recommend Piano Sonata in G minor and Das Jahr)
Piano Pieces by Judith Lang Zaimont on Sheet Music Plus
Piano Music of Zara Levina on Piano Rare Scores
Piano Sonata & Waltz by Dora Pejačević on Piano Rare Scores
Piano Works by Sophie Menter on Piano Rare Scores
30 Etudes by Louise Farrenc on imslp.org
3 Morceaux by Lili Boulanger on imslp.org
Reverie op. 2 no. 1 by Paula Szalit
4 Sketches by Amy Beach (I really recommend “Dreaming” and “Fireflies”)
Music by June Armstrong (I recommend “Safari,” “Six Little Preludes & Fugues” and “Enchanted World”)
Troubled Water by Margaret Bonds
Romancing in Style by Eugénie Rocherolle
4 Preludes by Maria Szymanowska
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