Female Classical Composers

Mystic poet, composer, and new age poster child Hildegard von Bingen's "Symphonia virginum: O dulcissime amator" is based on the fifth-century legend of the 11,000 virgins who were said to have been slaughtered by Attila the Hun for refusing to submit to concubinage. Clara Schumann, though eclipsed in fame by husband Robert, was no slouch, with more than three-dozen compositions to her credit.

Amy Beach began composing at age four and giving recitals at seven; Alan Feinberg and the Nashville Symphony turn in a remarkably spirited performance of her "Piano Concerto in C Sharp Minor." Cécile Chaminade's "Serenade, Op. 29" is a terrific introduction to this prolific artiste, who composed more than 400 works. And then there are two Pulitzer Prize winners, Shulamit Ran and Ellen Taffe Zwilich, who dazzle with the power and depth of their compositions.

Lili Boulanger was a student of Gabriel Fauré, and was the first woman to win the Prix de Rome. Unfortunately, she lived only five more years, during which she composed "D'un Matin De Printemps," among other works. Hector Berlioz said Louise Ferrenc had "rare talent for the orchestration," heard here in her "Trio pour clarinette, violoncelle et piano." And the renowned JoAnn Falletta, whom the New York Times calls "one of the finest conductors of her generation" with the justly lauded Womens' Philharmonic, can be heard with a robust and sensitive reading from the highly regarded Chen Yi.

It's a man's man's man's man's world…not. Even though composers, such as Clara Schumann, were frequently prevented from publishing during their careers, modern scholarship has brought to light the works of many truly gifted artistes whose efforts deserve to be part of the major canon. It would be a happy thing to say that women have gained total equality in the world of classical composition, but in certain quarters an archaic mindset continues to prevail. (Really! In classical music! Who knew?) Nonetheless, we are now able to celebrate these tremendous works of art, as well as these composers, to a greater degree than ever before, due to an ever-increasing number of recordings. Terrific stuff here.