An Entire Cake: 5 Female Composers

There has been a notable lack of one thing on this blog recently and that is female composers. Unfortunately, history tends to favour the male composers - largely because men were (on the whole, this is a massive generalisation) more encouraged to compose music than women. But there are some amazing female composers out there. Some of which we really only (and quite sadly) know about because of the men in their life. Others, especially more recently, have come to the fore - and it's a very exciting time. Here are five female composers just to get you started on exploring what else there is out there, to make up for the five weeks in which I've been away.

1. Clara Schumann

Schumann is, in my opinion, one of the best composers ever. She shows a sort of melodic and harmonic awareness which far surpasses that of her husband for me. Take a listen to her Piano Concerto in A minor, with its incredibly exciting opening movement, an insanely beautiful second movement and then a third movement which combines both of these ideas and more. The music ends with a sort of epic fighting spirit that is quite rarely found.



2. Fanny Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn really brings music to life, and really understood the instruments she was writing for. Her brother, Felix, is often regarded as a musical prodigy and, to an extent, pioneer. Yet, I would argue that Fanny's pure understanding of how music and emotion can interact and her exquisite writing for piano could set her above her brother in the eyes of some people. Here's the Piano Quartet in Ab Major, which not only showcases her piano composition but also that of stringed instruments to create something utterly heart-warming. It's like a musical smile.




3. Rebecca Saunders

Saunders is the queen of musical detail. She knows exactly what message she wants to get across, what sounds to use and how to notate them so that they do. Here is the slightly less heartwarming 'Molly's Song 3 (shades of crimson)' which, to me, gives very clear images of what kind of message it is trying to get across and definitely takes you on an emotional journey.




4. Hildegard von Bingen

One of the earliest female composers to truly cement themselves into the musical world, von Bingen's music is truly epic and almost transcends even the most awe inspiring music from later times. Because I could just listen to this for about a year non stop, here's Spotify's playlist of some of her best stuff...



5. Elena Kats-Chernin

Australian composer Kats-Chernin might seem like a bit of a curveball here, but I had to include her because she has such exciting music - epic in a different way to that above. From truly beautiful piano music, to touching instrumental and ensemble works, Kats-Chernin again has a way with musical notes that have a genuine impact. Here is 'Fast Blue Village 2' which I thought would be an epic way to conclude this little collection of slices - an entire cake, if you will - celebrating female composition.