Woman's Work in Music

The author surveys the historical role of women in music from ancient myth and medieval practice through modern national schools, combining cultural anecdotes, biographical sketches, and critical assessment. Chapters address legendary origins, the influence of wives and female performers on composers, and detailed profiles of notable women musicians, including Clara Wieck Schumann. Separate national surveys treat England, Germany, France, America and other countries, while appended lists and illustrations catalogue compositions and reception. The work concludes by evaluating the musical rank of women's output compared with men's and tracing shifts in social and artistic opportunities for women in the musical sphere.