Historically, female composers have lacked a prominent voice, whether because they have been assigned to run households and raise children, or because society has told women that they can't or shouldn't have a career. Now, there is a distinct movement not just towards the female composer, but seemingly to redress a significant gender imbalance throughout the arts. Various websites and Facebook forums have materialised over the past few years dedicated to the cause, and BBC Radio 3 has joined the crusade with its programme ‘Celebrating Female Composers’. There is even a sheet music company focusing on publishing music solely composed by women (Hildegard Publishing Company).
In light of this, it seems appropriate to spotlight the many female composers who have written for the piano, and particularly those who have contributed to the educational piano repertoire. The list is extensive, beginning nearly 400 years ago, when women were writing with just as much vigour, innovation and dedication as their male counterparts. I hope this quick sojourn through history may be viewed as a starting point for instigating a deeper interest in female educational piano music.
During the renaissance and baroque periods, composers writing purely for keyboard were somewhat restricted by the early stage of development of their instruments. But there is evidence that female composers were active and writing, using the traditional form of the suite containing dance movements. Prime examples are the French composers Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) and Françoise-Charlotte de Senneterre Ménétou (1679-1745), who both wrote suites for harpsichord. De la Guerre's music comprises simple minuets (including some that would not be out of place on a Grade 1 or 2 exam syllabus), sarabandes, gigues, courantes and preludes (sometimes written freely without bar lines), often with abundant ornamentation, typical of the florid French style of this period. De la Guerre's Pieces de Clavecin and De Senneterre Ménétou's Gavottes or Folies D'Espagne for harpsichord are notable works.
As the classical style approached, more female composers emerged. Those who wrote music suitable for those studying the piano include: Maria Teresa Agnesi (1720-1795), Anna Bon (born 1738/1739), Isabelle de Charrière (1740-1805), Marianna von Martines (1744-1812), Marie Emmanuelle Bayon Louis (1746-1825), Genovieffa Ravissa de Turin (1745/1750–1807), Jane Savage (1752/1753-1824), Maria Hester Park (1760-1813), Jane Mary Guest (1762-1846), Hélène de Nervo de Montgeroult (1764-1836), Cecilia Maria Barthélemon (1767-1859), Sophia Corri Dussek (1775-1831), Marie Bigot (1786-1820), Maria Szymanowska (1789-1831) and Helene Liebmann (1796-1835).
Anna Bon's Six Harpsichord Suites Op 2 (1757) show all the hallmarks of the early classical style, generally with three movements per suite and plenty for the early-intermediate (around Grade 4) to advanced student (Grade 8) to enjoy. Similarly, Maria Teresa Agnesi and Marianna von Martines both wrote lively keyboard sonatas suitable for intermediate to advanced students. Their styles are characterised by simple tunes coupled with plenty of keyboard display.
Hélène de Nervo de Montgeroult wrote in a more idiomatic style as the piano gradually developed. Montgeroult's large collection of piano studies would appeal to students of early intermediate level (from Grade 3) to advanced and beyond. Effectively written, many are short yet imaginative. Similarly, Maria Szymanowska has written, among innumerable piano compositions, a set of 25 brief but elegant mazurkas.
As we move into the romantic and late-romantic period, female composers begin to make their mark. Or is this because their legacy finally started to be recorded by publishers and public records?
Composers of particular interest to those learning the piano include: Louise Farrenc (1804-1875), Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847), Leopoldine Blahetka (1811-1887), Clara Schumann (1819-1896), Faustina Hasse Hodges (1823-1895), Marie Jaëll (1846-1925), Agathe Backer Grøndahl (1847-1907), Augusta Holmès (1847-1903), Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850-1927), Teresa Carreño (1853-1917), Helen Hopekirk (1856-1945), Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944), Mélanie Bonis (1858-1937), Ethel Smyth (1858-1944), Dora Bright (1862-1951), Liza Lehmann (1862-1918), Amy Beach (1867-1944), Ethel Barns (1874-1948), Johanna Senfter (1879-1961), Adaline Shepherd (1883-1950), Dora Pejačević (1885-1923), Florence Price (1887-1953), Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983), Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) and Yvonne Adair (1897-1989).
Elementary pupils might enjoy works by Yvonne Adair, whose Little Dog Tales for children are delightful for the lower grades. Mélanie Bonis' Scènes enfantines Op 92 is a collection of eight short pieces, perfect for Grade 3 to Grade 6, and Liza Lehmann's Cobweb Castle consists of five evocative pieces for intermediate to advanced pupils.
Agathe Backer Grøndahl's expressive, tuneful style is an attractive proposition. The 6 Fantasistykker Op 66 are a collection of charming little pieces for early intermediate players, and the 12 Smaa fantasistykker Op 55 and 10 Fantasistykker Op 36 would suit intermediate to advanced pianists. Helen Hopekirk's music is full of Scottish joie de vivre, and her Suite for Piano is ideal for more advanced players.
Amy Beach and Cécile Chaminade have also written interesting shorter pieces. Check out Beach's Children's Album Op 36 and Children's Carnival Op 25, which are suites of pieces for young players (Grades 3-7), and Chaminade's Album des enfants Op 123 and Op 126.
Moving to advanced level works, pieces by Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn rightly remain popular in the repertoire. Schumann's Impromptu in E major and Three Romances Op 11 and Mendelssohn's Das Jahr H 385 provide an excellent introduction. Louise Farrenc's piano etudes are certainly worth exploring, and Teresa Carreno's delightful and often virtuosic salon pieces begin at around Grade 7 or 8 level. Plainte Op 17 and Le Sommeil de L’Enfant Op 35 are both fun to play.
For those approaching Grade 8 and above, why not opt for Florence Price's Sonata in E minor (1932) or Adaline Shepard's wonderful ragtime works such as Pickles and Peppers (1906), Wireless Rag (1909) and Live Wires Rag (1910).
During the later 20th century, women became accepted as composers in their own right. While the gender imbalance was (and is) still far from being addressed, during this period female composers could achieve publication, and many were focusing on writing for educational purposes. The following have all contributed significantly to student repertoire: Margaret Bonds (1913-1972), Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-), Valerie Capers (1935-), Barbara Heller (1936-), Eugénie Rocherolle (1939-), Carolyn Miller (1941-), Carol Klose (1945-2013), Carol Barratt (1945-), Nancy Telfer (1950-), Glenda Austin (1951-), Nancy Faber (1955-), Joselyn E Kotchie (1960-), Jennifer Linn (1960-), Barbara Arens (1960-), Heather Hammond (1963-), Carol Matz (1965-), Nikki Illes (1963-), Wendy Stevens (1975-), and Christine Donkin (1976-).
Joan Last's (1908-2002) collections of elementary piano works include Puck's Pieces, Moonlight Fancies, Sea Gypsies and a wonderful sight-reading series, Sight-Reading for Today. Edna-Mae Burnam's (1907-2007) series A Dozen a Day has been popular with students and teachers for decades. Other works of interest include Janina Garscia's (1920-2004) Miniatures for Piano Op 5, Catherine Rollin's (1952-) Lyric Moments, Melody Bober's (1955-) Grand Solos for Piano, Karen Tanaka's (1961-) Children of Light and June Armstrong's (1951-) Paint Box or Safari. For a contemporary twist, try Thea Musgrave (1928-), Diana Burrell (1948-) and Judith Weir (1954-), three of 11 contributing composers to the superb piece Variations for Judith (Grades 4-7).
Martha Mier's (1936-) Jazz, Rags and Blues series, Pamela Wedgewood's (1947-) Jazzin’ About and After Hours, and Elissa Milne's (1967-) Pepperpot Jazz and Little Peppers Series all feature jazz, blues, rock and ragtime, styles that students love. For a more minimalist slant, explore Elena Kats-Chernin's (1957-) 12 One-Page Piano Pieces, Book of Rags or Unsent Love Letters (Meditations on Eric Satie), Lola Perrin's (1962-) expressive piano suites, or my own volume, No Words Necessary (Grade 3-6).
