10 must-listen masterpieces by women composers
Long relegated to the background in music history, women composers have nothing to envy their male counterparts. Talent, audacity, emotion, innovation... Their often little-known works deserve to be heard, shared and celebrated. Today, there's a groundswell of interest that's putting these creators back at the heart of repertoires, stages and playlists.
To highlight the richness of music composed by women, from the Baroque to contemporary creation, Newzik presents a selection of unmissable masterpieces. Behind each piece: a strong personality, a singular style, a work that fully deserves its place in our listening experience.
Get your headphones or sheet music ready: here are 10 works to discover and (re)put at the heart of your listening.
Why are female composers so little recognized?
While the names of Bach, Mozart or Beethoven are universally known, those of Louise Farrenc, Clara Schumann or Lili Boulanger remain marginal in the programming. Yet their talent is indisputable. So how do we explain this historical invisibilization of women composers?
Structural obstacles from childhood onwards
For centuries, access to learning music was highly gendered. Girls were allowed to play an instrument, as long as it was a private matter or part of a "good upbringing". But what about composing? Studying fugue, orchestration, conducting an ensemble? This was reserved for men. Some musical institutions, such as conservatories, closed their doors to them for a long time, or gave them only secondary status.
Recognition often prevented
Even when they did manage to compose, women were rarely published, performed or recognized. Many works were lost, attributed to men, or left in drawers. Some even signed under a pseudonym or kept their creations in the shadows so as not to harm the career of a musician brother or husband. Fanny Mendelssohn, for example, saw some of her compositions published in the name of her brother Felix.
Enduring prejudices
For a long time, critics believed that women could not "compete" with the great composers, either technically or structurally. Too sensitive, not powerful enough, it was said. These clichés, though shaken, continue to weigh heavily on programming, manuals and listening habits. As a result, a vast repertoire remains largely unknown to the general public.
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10 masterpieces by women composers to (re)discover
1. Clara Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7
Clara Schumann (1819-1896), virtuoso pianist and composer, left her mark on German Romanticism. Her Piano Concerto in A minor, composed when she was just 14, is a jewel of emotion and technique. The work reveals a perfect balance between lyricism and dramatic power, with highly inventive piano writing. Clara was one of the first women to perform as a concert soloist throughout Europe, which was extremely rare in her day. This concerto bears witness to her musical genius and her ability to express an intense emotional palette.
2. Barbara Strozzi - Lagrime mie
Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) was one of the first female composers to publish music under her own name, in a Baroque Italy dominated by men. A pupil of the composer Cavalli, she was also a singer and poet. Her aria Lagrime mie ("My Tears") is a veritable summit of expressivity in the 17th-century vocal repertoire. It's no coincidence that this work is often chosen by today's great Baroque voices: it showcases technique as much as emotion. Barbara Strozzi published 8 volumes of music, an exceptional feat at a time when female composers were rare and often invisible.
3. Louise Farrenc - Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 36
Frenchwoman Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) was a composer and professor at the Paris Conservatoire, a rare female figure in the 19th-century musical world. Her Symphony n°3, composed in 1849, is a powerful Romantic work, often compared to the symphonies of Mendelssohn or Schumann. The symphony is distinguished by its rich orchestration, elegant melodies and rigorous structure. Farrenc has long struggled for recognition for his works, but this symphony remains a fine example of his talent and mastery.
4. Lili Boulanger - Psalm 130 (Du fond de l'abîme)
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918), the first woman to win the prestigious Prix de Rome for composition, made her mark with the spiritual depth and modernity of her works. Her Psalm 130, composed in 1917, is a deeply moving choral piece that combines innovative harmonic writing with great emotional intensity. Inspired by the biblical text, this work illustrates the intimate yet universal quest that runs through all Lili Boulanger's music. Psalm 130 remains a major piece in the choral repertoire, often hailed for its expressive power and poignant beauty.
Her elder sister, Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979), was also a major figure in French music, renowned above all as a pedagogue. A professor at the Paris Conservatoire, Nadia trained several generations of composers around the world, while pursuing a career as a composer and conductor. Although less famous for her works than her sister Lili, Nadia Boulanger had a considerable influence on twentieth-century music, perpetuating her family's musical heritage.
5. Judith Weir - A Night at the Chinese Opera (excerpts)
Judith Weir, born in 1954, is a contemporary British composer and current Master of Music to the Crown of England - the first time a woman has held this prestigious position. Her opera A Night at the Chinese Opera, premiered in 1987, has been hailed for its dramatic intelligence and musical richness. The work blends Western and Asian influences, based on a 13th-century Chinese play. Weir incorporates a "play within a play", sung in an ancient style, which complements and enriches the more modern main story. The opera is a marvellous example of Weir's art of musical storytelling and his ability to renew traditional lyrical forms.
👉🏻 Want to (re)discover the great operatic works that have left their mark on the stage? Discover 10 famous and timeless operas.
6. Amy Beach - Gaelic Symphony
Amy Beach (1867-1944) is considered the first American composer to achieve national success with symphonic works. Her Gaelic Symphony, premiered in 1896, is inspired by traditional Irish and Scottish melodies, reinterpreted in a rich Romantic idiom. The symphony is remarkable for its lyricism, energy and orchestral freshness. Amy Beach succeeded in establishing a strong female voice in a musical milieu heavily dominated by men, paving the way for other female composers in the United States.
7. Germaine Tailleferre - Concertino for harp and orchestra
French composer Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) was a member of the famous Groupe des Six, the only woman to have taken part in this circle of modernist French composers. Her Concertino for harp and orchestra, composed in 1927, is a luminous, joyous and witty work. The harp is exploited in all its virtuosity, with a light, colorful orchestration. Germaine Tailleferre combined modernity with classical elegance, and this concertino remains a landmark piece in the harp repertoire.
Did you know? Germaine Tailleferre remained the only woman in the Groupe des Six throughout its existence. This collective, founded in the 1920s, was an almost exclusively male circle of influential French composers who sought to renew classical music by breaking with the Romantic and Impressionist traditions. Tailleferre added a fresh touch, helping to shape the group's distinctive sound while asserting her talent in a predominantly male world.
8. Kaija Saariaho - Love from afar
Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023) is one of the most influential composers of contemporary music. Born in Finland, she made a name for herself in the 1980s with her unique sound language, combining refined timbres, complex orchestral textures and electronic sound processing. Her opera L'Amour de loin, premiered in 2000 at the Salzburg Festival, marked a turning point: it was the first opera composed by a woman to be staged at New York's Metropolitan Opera in over a century. Inspired by a medieval story of courtly love, the work is shot through with haunting layers of sound, subtle dramatic tension and rare visual poetry. L'Amour de loin has been hailed for its accessible modernity and immersive aesthetic.
9. Unsuk Chin - Piano Concerto
South Korean composer Unsuk Chin, born in 1961, has established herself as a major figure in contemporary music. Her Piano Concerto, premiered in 1997, combines virtuosity, rhythmic complexity and rich textures. The work has been enthusiastically acclaimed for its ability to combine modernity and expressiveness. Winner of several prestigious prizes in the world of contemporary music, Unsuk Chin is renowned for pushing back the boundaries of current musical language.
10. Florence Price - Symphony No. 1 in E minor
Florence Price (1887-1953) was the first African-American composer to have one of her symphonies performed by a major American orchestra (the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933). Her Symphony n°1 in E minor blends European classical influences with themes inspired by African-American folklore. This powerful, emotional work is now being rediscovered and celebrated as a major milestone in the history of American music. Florence Price had to overcome many racial and sexist obstacles to get her music heard.
Rediscover the wealth of women's music from past to present
Clara Schumann, Kaija Saariaho, Amy Beach, Barbara Strozzi... These and many other female composers have helped shape the history of music with as much force, creativity and singularity as their male counterparts. Yet all too often, their works have been sidelined, ignored or forgotten. Today, restoring visibility to these masterpieces - listening to them, playing them, programming them - means not only redressing a historical injustice, but also enriching our relationship with music.
From baroque to contemporary, from lied to symphony, these female creations offer a diversity of universes, sensibilities and languages that fully deserve their place in our daily listening. Whether you're a musician, the curious or a passionate music lover, rediscovering these works also means better understanding what women have written, composed and transmitted in every era, often well beyond their own age or time.
🎧 All you have to do is listen.
🎼 How about replaying these works with Newzik?
Want to go further than just listening? Newzik gives you access to a digital catalog of scores to explore, play and share the works of many female composers. Whether you're a soloist, chamber musician or teacher, you can :
Import or search classical or contemporary scores
Annotate your games in real time, from your tablet
Working in collaboration with other musicians
Build more balanced programs, highlighting voices that have been overlooked for too long
👉 Experience this repertoire in a different way: on stage, in the classroom or at home.
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