FEMALE COMPOSER

 

 

For more than a decade, I have championed and explored forgotten pieces of the French classical repertoire, in particular, that of French female composers who were active at the turn of the 19th century. 

 

 Women were very active in music salons where high society came together to exchange ideas and knowledge as well as poetry and music. Hèlène de Montgeroult, Marie Bigot, Mme Desfossez, Mme de Villeblanche, Caroline Boissier Buttini, Mme de Charrière, Fanny Mendelssohn, Julie Candeille, all musicians, performers, composers active on the Parisian scène at the turn of the 19th century. They were not just music lovers. They succeeded in going beyond the limits imposed upon them by their gender and social standing,both of which typically prohibited pursuingmusic professionally. They became renowned pianists, sought after teachers, and admired composers who were heard in salons all over Europe.Their music is a powerful testament to their need to create in spite of the restrictions oftheir social and domestic position. It is time to bring light to this music ignored because of gender.