This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCD chapter.
As early as the 11th century, women have been creating, sharing, and expressing their lives through musical compositions. Female composers may not have the same household recognition as male composers, but that does not mean they are any less talented. Here are just a few musically gifted women that have left their mark on musical history:
Hildegard von Bingen(1098-1179)
Hildegard of Bingen, also known as Saint Hildegard, was a German catholic nun during the High Middle Ages (1000-1250). She’s one of the best-known composers of this time, creating 73 musical compositions and the musical drama Ordo Virtutum. Alongside her musical talents, she also wrote scientific and medical journals. Saint Hildegard is credited as the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.
Barbara Strozzi was an Italian composer and singer during the Baroque Period. She published eight volumes of her music, making her the most published composer of the era. A majority of Strozzi’s works were written for soprano. She often incorporated social issues in her writings, including issues regarding gender.
Germaine Tailleferre was the only woman in a group of French composers called Les Six. She composed orchestral and chamber music, as well as several film and musical scores. Much of her work was not published until after her death.
Guadalupe Olmedo is considered the first Mexican woman composer to write classical music. Her most famous works feature solo piano pieces influenced by romantic, dreamy melodies.
Born into a musically talented family, Clara Schumann grew up playing the piano and composing music from a young age. She’s one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic Era, composing piano pieces, chamber music, choral pieces, and songs. Schumann also collaborated with her husband Robert, who pursued a music career after hearing Schumann play one of her pieces. Her works feature a blend of piano, cello, and violin.
Teresa Carreño was born into a musical Venezuelan family and learned how to play the piano from her father. Carreño began playing professionally at the tender age of 9, with her concerts quickly selling out. She also performed for Abraham Lincoln at the White House. Carreño composed over 40 piano pieces in her lifetime.
Florence Price was the first African American woman to have her compositions performed by a major symphony orchestra. She is recognized as the first African-American woman symphonic composer. Price drew musical inspiration from African-American churches she frequented as a child, and her melodies blended blues with European romantic themes. Her 300 compositions speak for themselves, with Symphony No. 1 in E Minor being one of her most infamous works.
Judith Weir is a British composer who grew up playing the oboe and studied music while in school. She has written a series of operas that have gained international recognition. Her music is inspired by medieval history and traditional stories of her birthland of Scotland.
Anne Dudley has produced several scores for films and musicals, including The Full Monty, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Musical Score. She also served as a composer and music producer on the film version of Les Misérables.
Rachel Portman is an English composer best known for her grand resume of film scores. She wrote a children’s opera called The Little Prince and a Little House on the Prairie musical. You may recognize her works in films such as Emma, Chocolat, and Because of Winn-Dixie.
Victoria is a mechanical engineering and communication double major at the University of California, Davis. She loves writing, playing video games, and painting in her free time. Her main goal is to live a creative and fulfilling life.
