#ClassicsaDay #WomensHistoryMonth 2018 - Week 2

Some of us contributing to #ClassicsaDay decided to celebrate the role of women in classical music for March. Those posts included both the #ClassicsaDay and #WomensHistoryMonth hashtags. There were many posts of female performers and conductors. I chose to stick with composers.

Here is an annotated list of the composers I posted for the second week:

Claudia Sessa (c. 1570 – c. 1617/19) - Vattene pur Lascivia

Sessa came from a patrician family and took holy orders. Sessa's works were written for use in her abbey, and are all based on religious texts. Two of her compositions were published in 1613. It's not clear how many other works she composed.

Mlle Duval (1718–after 1775) - Sonata in G major

Her first name is unknown, and "Duval" may have been a stage name. She was a talented harpsichordist, dancer, and published composer. The Paris Opera produced her opera, and her chamber music was frequently performed in salons.

Emilie Mayer (1812–1883) - Symphony No. 7 in F-minor

Mayer was a prolific composer, though her career didn't take off until the 1840s. Her catalog includes eight symphonies, a piano concerto, an opera, seven concert overtures and numerous chamber works.

Tera de Marez Oyens (1932-1996) - Structures and Dance for violin and orchestra

Dutch composer had a career writing music for church songbooks before discovering electronic music in the 1960s. Her style changed dramatically, and her works become more complex and innovative. In the 1980s Oyens was able to devote her time exclusively to compositions -- her most important works are from this period. Oyens' catalog has over 200 classical works.

Gabriela Lena Frank (1972 - ) - An Andean Walkabout

Gabriela Frank studied with William Bolcom and Michael Daugherty. Her lineage is a mixture of American/Lithuanian/Jewish/Peruvian/Chinese. The music traditions of these diverse cultures are an important part of Frank's style. Her work has found a following among both contemporary classical and world music audiences.