Ethel Smyth

Ethyl Smyth
1858-1944

Smyth was a British composer, one of a handful who are being 'rediscovered' on recordings and in the concert hall as of late. Such additions to the 'tried and true' concert programs are mightily welcomed by this listener.

I will admit my first interaction with her music was not all that promising however, but judging a composer on one random work is hardly fair, and that recording had other issues as well. As it is, I have a list of works I wish to sample from Smyth, thus I will remain eager to hear more of her musical voice.

I get the feeling Dame Ethel was a force to be reckoned with. There are many tales of her trying to promote her own works, dealings in working and personal relationships, and run-ins with the law in conjunction with the suffragette movement. We could all hope for such a colorful life.

Smyth's music runs the gamut from what I have heard from her so far. Her earliest works are more conservative, following in the footsteps of Beethoven and Brahms. Her later works show a willingness to experiment and surprise, which is what we all wish for composers. In contemporaneous reviews, many considered her music too 'masculine', and indeed her treatment of orchestra is often quite robust.

But as can be expected of the time, Ethel Smyth had trouble getting recognition for her initiatives in music, yet thankfully had some benefactors who helped her at various points of her compositional career. She has recently had a resurgence of interest in her music in the last decade; hopefully more will come from that through recordings.




Recordings and reviews currently on hand (Click below to visit):




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