How many works by female composers have you got in your music collection?
On International Women’s Day we have decided to share some of our favourite CDs featuring works by female composers through the ages. If you are not familiar with this repertoire we have, where possible, attached links to the album covers so that you can explore this wonderful, but in many cases neglected, music.
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
A feather on the breath of God – Emma Kirkby, Gothic Voices, Christopher Page
Francesca Caccini (1587-c1641)
La liberazione di Ruggerio dall’isola di Alcina
Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677)
Virtuosissima Compositrice – Cappella Mediterranea, Leonarda García Alarcon
Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729)
Complete Harpsichord Sonatas – Carole Cerasi (harpsichord)
Louise Farrenc (1804-1875)
Piano Quintets – Konstanze Eickhorst, Linos Ensemble
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Das Jahr (The Year) – Lauma Skride (piano)
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Piano Concerto & Piano Trio – Francesco Nicolosi (piano)
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Piano Works – Peter Jacobs
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Violin Sonata in A minor, Op. 7 – Sophia Rahman (piano), Clare Howick (violin)
Amy Beach (1867-1944)
Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 45 – Danny Driver (piano), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Rebecca Miller
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979)
Piano Trio – Trio des Alpes
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
Faust et Hélène – Llyne Dawson, Ann Murray, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Yan Pascal Tortelier
Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994)
The Sofa – Independent Opera, Dominic Wheeler
Judith Weir (b1954)
Atlantic Drift – Madeleine Mitchell (violin), Cerys Jones (violin)
Jennifer Higdon (b1962)
Viola Concerto – Roberto Díaz, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero
Roxanna Panufnik (b1968)
Four World Seasons – Tasmin Little (violin), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Graham Bradshaw
