Awesome Women Composers Part 3: Works for Piano and Orchestra

Instead of focusing specifically on the piano concerto (a piece of music, typically in three movements, where a virtuosic solo piano is accompanied by an orchestra), I wanted to research piano-and-orchestra pieces by female composers that didn’t necessarily follow this mold. So here is a collection of unique compositions featuring piano and orchestra by some amazing (and extremely underrated) women composers.

Konzertstück (Concert Piece) in D minor (1893) by Helen Hopekirk

Scottish pianist and composer Helen Hopekirk (1856-1945) spent much of her life performing and teaching (as well as composing). Even though much of her adult life was spent in America, Hopekirk was fascinated with the music of her Scottish heritage. She often utilized folk idioms in her compositions. Unfortunately, not much has been written about her concert piece for piano and orchestra, but it’s a wonderful work full of energy and imagery.

Fantasie pour Piano et Orchestre (1912) by Nadia Boulanger

Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979), French composer/conductor/teacher, was known for having taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century. She achieved early honors while studying at the Paris Conservatory but gave up composing in 1918 because she thought her music was “useless”. (That also happened to be right after her sister Lili died. Coincidence?) Boulanger was 25 when she composed her Fantasie pour Piano et Orchestra, and this ambitious work shows her struggle to break out of the mold as a composer.

Ballade for Piano and Orchestra (1920) by Germaine Tailleferre

The only female composer of the group Les Six (the other members include  Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, and Francis Poulenc), Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) wrote a plethora of music throughout her life. Her Ballade for Piano and Orchestra captures the elegant spirit of French Impressionism through her delicate layering of textures and repeated patterns. Listen to the gorgeous section from 6:00-6:30 (and pay attention to the subtle chord at 6:11; it’s marvelous)!

Sinfonia Concertante (1941) by Grace Williams

Welsh composer Grace Williams (1906-1977) is regarded as Wale’s most notable female composer. After moving to London in 1926, she studied with many reputable musicians (including Ralph Vaughan Williams) and began teaching music lessons. Sinfonia Concertante was one of her first major compositions – Williams began working on it after she had been evacuated out of London during World War II. This work is full of driving energy, perhaps representing the depression and other stress-related health issues she suffered during this time in her life.

Concierto Sentimental (1948) by María Luisa Escobar

María Luisa Escobar (1903-1985) began her music studies at the young age of 5 years old. She worked tirelessly to promote Venezuelan music throughout her life, and that shows in her compositions. Concierto Sentimental is infused with Venezuelan ideas, and it’s a cheerful and sweet homage to piano and orchestral works.

These are works by just a handful of the wonderful women composers that have written music throughout history. Who else would you add to this list?