In the 19th century, Lieder (songs) were often considered 'utility music' for bourgeois salons, serving as entertainment and a creative outlet for women.
Composition History
Richard Strauss's 'Mädchenblumen' cycle, composed in 1887 when he was 23, uses texts by Felix Dahn, whose overly kitschy portrayals of female stereotypes were often mocked.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For many women composers, writing Lieder was a way to earn money if they were not financially supported by a wealthy family.
Composer Biography
Ethel Smyth, a composer who actively championed women's rights, was part of the Suffragette movement in England and even conducted her 'Prisoners' Chorus' with a toothbrush while imprisoned.
Recording & Production
The performers Yvonne Prentki and Benedikt ter Braak have focused on rediscovering works by women composers of the Romantic era since 2020.
Composer Biography
Josephine Lang's songs were a therapeutic diary for her, processing personal tragedies and intimate moments, as she stated: 'My songs are my diary'.
Composer Biography
Nadia Boulanger, a composer, conductor, music journalist, and theorist, was primarily known as a pedagogue, teaching figures like Quincy Jones and Aaron Copland.
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