19th Century

15 March

March 15th: Lili Boulanger

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, France 19th Century, 20th Century, Faust et Hélène, Female Composers, Lili Boulanger, March, Vieille prière bouddhique

Lili Boulanger 21 August 1893 – 15 March 1918

Vieille prière bouddhique

Faust et Hélène

Lili Boulanger
By Henri Manuel – [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114463198

Lili Boulanger was a French composer and musician, the first woman to win the Prix de Rome for composition in 1913 with her cantata Faust et Hélène. She was the younger sister of Nadia Boulanger, a celebrated composer and teacher, and the daughter of composer Ernest Boulanger. Lili showed remarkable musical talent from an early age, absorbing Conservatoire-level learning while accompanying Nadia to lessons. Unfortunately, chronic illness disrupted her education and shortened her life. She studied at the Paris Conservatoire, supported by Nadia. In 1912, Lili attempted the Prix de Rome but collapsed during performances. In 1913, at nineteen, she won first prize, a landmark achievement for women in music. During World War I, she and Nadia organised support for soldiers and Conservatoire networks. Lili’s musical style features lush harmony and sensitive orchestration, blending influences from composers like Fauré and Debussy. Key works include Faust et Hélène, Psaume 130, and Pie Jesu. Her legacy continues through the Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund, promoting women composers and recognising her contributions to music history.

13 March

March 13th: Amy Woodforde-Finden

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, England, Europe 19th Century, 20th Century, Amy Woodforde-Finden, Female Composers, Kashmiri Song, March, Romantic

Amy Woodforde-Finden 1860 – 13 March 1919

Kashmiri Song

Amy Woodforde-Finden
By Katchuri – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86088907

Amy Woodforde-Finden was a composer who is best known for writing the music to “Kashmiri Song” from Four Indian Love Lyrics by Laurence Hope. Amy Woodforde-Finden, born Amelia Rowe Ward in 1860 in Valparaíso, Chile, was the youngest daughter of American parents. After her father’s death, her mother moved the family to London, where Amy developed a talent for music. She studied under notable teachers and began composing. At 34, she married Brigade-Surgeon Woodforde-Finden and lived in India, where she created her famous works, including “Kashmiri Song” in 1902. Her music combined British sensibilities with Asian influences, reflecting the romanticism of her time. In 1916, she faced personal tragedy with her husband’s death, yet her music continued to be celebrated, even appearing in films. Woodforde-Finden’s compositions, while once popular, have been critiqued for their exoticism. Despite this, her melodies and themes of love and longing resonate with audiences. She passed away in 1919, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire musicians today, including the establishment of a music festival in her honour in 2022.

8 March

March 8th: Ethel Smyth (International Women’s Day)

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, England, Europe 19th Century, 20th Century, Ethel Smyth, Female Composers, International Women's Day, March, Sonata for Cello & Piano in A Minor, The March Of The Women

Ethel Smyth 22 April 1858 – 8 May 1944

International Women's Day

Sonata for Cello & Piano in A Minor Op. 5: II. Adagio non troppo

The March Of The Women

Ethel Smyth
By Adam Cuerden – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID ggbain.33693.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6502824

“The March of the Women” is a powerful song composed by Ethel Smyth in 1910, with words by Cicely Hamilton. It became the anthem of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and the women’s suffrage movement in the United Kingdom. Activists sang it at rallies and even in prison during hunger strikes, showcasing their determination for equal rights. Smyth based the melody on a traditional tune from Abruzzo, Italy, dedicating it to the WSPU. The song was first performed on 21 January 1911 by the Suffrage Choir in London. Emmeline Pankhurst introduced it as the WSPU’s official anthem. The song was significant during protests, including a famous performance in 1912 at Holloway Prison, where women activists sang while imprisoned. The march was also used in a large demonstration in Washington, D.C., in 1914. Smyth created various arrangements, including for choir and orchestra. The song remains a symbol of women’s rights and the ongoing fight for equality, inspiring future generations to advocate for social change.

7 March

March 7th: Maurice Ravel

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, France 19th Century, 20th Century, Boléro, Impressionist, March, Maurice Ravel, Pavane for a Dead Princess, Pavane pour une infante défunte

Maurice Ravel 7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937

Pavane pour une infante défunte Pavane for a Dead Princess

Boléro

Maurice Ravel
By Unknown author The image holder, the Bibliothèque nationale de France has not identified a photographer. (Follow link and click on “Detailed information”.) – Bibliothèque nationale de France, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11402630

Maurice Ravel was a French composer, pianist, and conductor, often linked with musical Impressionism alongside Debussy. However, he rejected this label and developed a style prized for clarity, precision, and brilliant orchestration. By the 1920s and 1930s, he was widely regarded as France’s leading living composer.

Born in Ciboure and raised in Paris, Ravel studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where conservative attitudes and setbacks, including the Prix de Rome controversy of 1905, fuelled public scandal. Outside the institution, he forged his own path, combining French tradition with modern influences. Ravel became known as a meticulous craftsman who composed comparatively few works, but with unusually high refinement. He wrote major repertoire across piano music, chamber music, orchestral works, ballet, opera, and song. His most famous composition is Boléro (1928), built on repetition and a long crescendo. Other landmark works include Daphnis et Chloé and La valse. Ravel was an early advocate for recordings to widen audiences.

6 March

March 6th: John Philip Sousa

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, North America, United States of America 19th Century, 20th Century, John Philip Sousa, March, Romantic, Semper Fidelis

John Philip Sousa November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932

Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)

John Philip Sousa
By Collection: The March King: John Philip Sousa (Original author unknown) – Library of CongressCatalog: https://www.loc.gov/resource/sousa.200031401.0Image download:Original url: https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/media/loc.natlib.sousa.200031401/ver01/0001.tif/2320, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144439195

John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor best known for U.S. military marches, earning the nickname “The March King.” His most famous works include “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Semper Fidelis,” “The Washington Post,” “The Liberty Bell,” and “The Thunderer.” He also helped popularise the sousaphone, a tuba designed for marching bands. Born in Washington, D.C., Sousa began music studies young, learning multiple instruments and showing talent. At 13, his father enlisted him as an apprentice in the United States Marine Band. Sousa left in 1875, worked as a violinist, and learned conducting. He returned in 1880 as director of the Marine Band, leading “The President’s Own” under five U.S. presidents. In 1892, Sousa formed the touring Sousa Band, which became famous, performing thousands of concerts. During World War I, he led a Navy band. Sousa died on 6 March 1932, after rehearsing “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” He is buried in Washington, D.C., where the Marine Band performs “Semper Fidelis” at his grave each year on his birthday.

2 March

March 2nd: Bedřich Smetana

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Czech Republic, Europe 19th Century, Bedřich Smetana, Die Moldau, March, Romantic

Bedřich Smetana 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884

Die Moldau

Bedřich Smetana
By Bain News Service, publisher – Library of CongressCatalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2014716851Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/36700/36702v.jpgOriginal url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014716851/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133935744

Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who played a vital role in developing a unique Czech musical style during the 19th-century cultural revival in Bohemia. Often referred to as the “father of Czech music”, he is best known internationally for his comic opera The Bartered Bride and the orchestral cycle Má vlast, particularly the symphonic poem Vltava, which beautifully depicts the river flowing through Prague.

Born in Litomyšl, Smetana displayed remarkable talent as a pianist and composer from a young age. He studied in Prague and participated in the 1848 Prague uprising, writing patriotic music. After personal tragedies, including the loss of his daughters and wife, he moved to Sweden, where he gained recognition. Returning to Prague, he became a key figure in Czech-language opera, with The Bartered Bride becoming a major success. Despite becoming deaf, Smetana continued to create significant works, including the six-part Má vlast. He remains a foundational figure in Czech culture, with his legacy enduring through his music.

JamesJamesEvanJamesMemorialPontypriddPark

1 March

March 1st: Evan James & James James (St. David’s Day)

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Wales 19th Century, Evan James & James James, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Land Of My Fathers, March, St. David's Day

Evan James & James James 18 January 1809 – 30 September 1878 / 4 November 1832 - 11 January 1902

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Land Of My Fathers

A memorial in Ynysangharad Park (Pontypridd, south Wales) to Evan James and James James, composers of the Welsh national anthem
By Varitek – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25733347

On 1 March (St David’s Day), many people in Wales celebrate their identity, culture, and language. A natural part of this celebration is the singing of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (“Land of My Fathers”), the de facto national anthem of Wales. Although it is not set in law as the official anthem, it is widely used at national and local events and is especially associated with sport and public occasions. Originally known as “Glan Rhondda”, the song was first performed in early 1856 and quickly became popular locally. Its profile grew after Welsh cultural festivals (Eisteddfodau) helped it travel across the country, gaining further status through notable performances later in the 19th century. A key turning point came in 1905 when it was sung before a rugby match, helping establish the tradition of pre-match anthems. The anthem’s creators were James James, who composed the tune, and his father Evan James, who wrote the words. Their contribution is commemorated locally, and their song has become a recognisable symbol of Welsh pride, especially fitting for St David’s Day.

29 February

February 29th: Gioachino Antonio Rossini

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Italy 19th Century, Classical, Fantasia for clarinet and piano, February, Gioachino Antonio Rossini, Romantic

Gioachino Antonio Rossini 29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868

Fantasia for clarinet and piano

Gioachino Rossini
By uncredited – Accademia nazionale di Santa Cecila, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95094224

Gioachino Rossini was an Italian composer known for his lively operas. He wrote 39 operas, becoming one of the most successful composers of the late Classical and early Romantic periods. Rossini was especially famous for his comic operas, full of fast music, humour, and memorable melodies.

Born in Pesaro, Italy, to musical parents, he began composing as a child. By his late teens, his operas were performed in major Italian cities. Between 1810 and 1823, he wrote many operas, including The Barber of Seville, La Cenerentola (Cinderella), and L’italiana in Algeri. These works made him famous across Europe. He also composed serious operas and later moved to Paris, where he wrote his final opera, Guillaume Tell. Surprisingly, Rossini stopped writing operas in his thirties, despite his popularity. In later life, he wrote smaller pieces, hosted musical gatherings, and became known for his wit and love of food. He died in 1868 and is remembered as one of opera’s greatest composers, influencing many with his unique style and creativity.

22 February

February 22nd: Alexander Fesca

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Germany 19th Century, Alexander Fesca, February, Klavierseptett, Romantic

Alexander Fesca 22 May 1820 – 22 February 1849

Klavierseptett Op. 26

Alexander Fesca
By Unknown author – Unknown source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9030690

Alexander Ernst Fesca was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, the second of four sons of composer Friedrich Ernst Fesca and his wife Charlotte. He began his musical education with his father and made his debut as a pianist at the age of 11. By 14, he graduated in composition from the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin, studying under notable teachers.

In 1838, he returned to Karlsruhe and achieved success with the operetta “Mariette.” Fesca was known for his songs and piano pieces, which displayed a lightness that some scholars viewed as lacking depth.

In 1841, his opera “The French in Spain” premiered successfully. That same year, he was appointed Chamber Virtuoso by Prince Egon von Furstenberg. He later settled in Brunswick, where his major work, the five-act opera “Il Trovatore,” premiered in 1847. Sadly, Fesca died of lung disease on 22 February 1849, at the young age of 28.

16 February

February 16th: Johann Strauss III

Thomas Pitts Austria, Composer Of The Day, Europe 19th Century, 20th Century, February, Johann Strauss III, Romantic, Unter den Linder

Johann Strauss III 6 February 1866 – 9 January 1939

Unter den Linder (Under the Linden Trees) Walzer, Op. 30

Johann Strauss III
By Carl Pietzner – Sport und Salon, 19.07.1900, p. 9, from digitized collections of Austrian National Library, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25554213

Johann Maria Eduard Strauss III was an Austrian composer born in Vienna. He belonged to a famous musical family; his father was Eduard Strauss, and his uncles were Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss. After the Strauss Orchestra dissolved in 1901, he was informally tasked with continuing his family’s musical legacy. Although he composed music, he is mainly remembered as a conductor. His only operetta, Katze und Maus, premiered in 1898 but received negative reviews. Critics suggested he use a pseudonym to avoid damaging his family’s reputation. Despite this, he created notable waltzes like Sylvanien and Leonie.

In 1903, he made history by being the first in his family to conduct recordings of their music. His later works, including The World Belongs to the Brave and the Coronation Waltz, gained popularity. Strauss’ music reflects the changing tastes of his time, as he navigated a world influenced by other composers like Franz Lehár.