Edith Swepstone facts for kids

Edith Mary Swepstone (born January 4, 1862 – died February 5, 1942) was an English composer and music teacher. She was born in Stepney, London. Her father was a lawyer in London.

Edith studied music at the Guildhall School. This is a famous music school in London. Later, she taught music at the City of London School. She passed away in Tonbridge, Kent.

Edith's Music Career

Edith Mary Swepstone was a talented musician. She studied music at the Guildhall School in London. After finishing her studies, she became a lecturer. She taught music at the City of London School starting in 1895.

Composing Music

Edith was also a composer. This means she wrote her own music. She wrote music for orchestras, which are large groups of instruments. She also wrote chamber music. This is music for smaller groups of instruments. She wrote many songs too.

In the early 1900s, many of her orchestral pieces were played. The Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra performed her music often. She had more works played by them than any other single composer. Between 1899 and 1933, 14 of her orchestral pieces were performed 24 times.

Her orchestra music was also played in other places. In 1887, part of her Symphony in G minor was played in Leyton. In 1897, her piece Les Tenebres was performed at Queen's Hall in London.

Chamber Music Performances

Edith's chamber music was also very popular. The South Place Concert Series in London played chamber music every week. Between 1887 and 1987, only 13 works by women composers were performed there. Edith Swepstone wrote more than half of these.

Her piece, Piano Quintet in E minor, was played four times at this concert series. This shows how important her music was. In total, seven of her chamber music pieces were performed there.

Other Chamber Works Performed

Besides the Piano Quintet in E minor, these pieces were each played once:

• Quintet D Hn & String Quartet
• Quintet E-flat Pf and Wind
• String Quartet Lyrical Cycle
• Piano Trio D minor
• Piano Trio G minor
• Piano Trio A minor

Edith's Musical Works

Edith Swepstone wrote many different types of music. She composed chamber music, songs, and music for choirs.

Selected Works

Here are some of the pieces she wrote:

• The Four Ships
• Foreshadowings
• A Song of Twilight (with A.R. Aldrich)
• Symphony in G minor
• Robert Louis Stevenson's Songs for Children Set to Music
• Three-Part Song for female voices (with Pianoforte Accompaniment, words by F.R. Haverga)
• Les Tenebres overture
• Honour March
• Lament, for Violin and Piano
• The Crocuses' Lament, Two-Part Song for female voices
• Requiem for Violoncello and Piano
• The Ice Queen, cantata, female voice
• Idylls of the Morn, cantata, female voice

Orchestral Works

These are some of her pieces written for a full orchestra:

• Daramona, symphonic poem, 1899
• The Ice Maiden, suite, 1900
• Symphony in G minor, 1902
• Les Tenebres overture, 1903
• Paolo and Francesca, prelude, 1904
• Mors Janua Vitae, funeral march, 1906
• The Wind in the Pines, symphonic poem, 1909
• The Horn of Roland, overture, 1910
• Moonrise on the Mountains, symphonic poem, 1912
• Woods in April, symphonic poem, 1914
• The Roll of Honour, march, 1916
• Morte d’Arthur, symphonic poem, 1920
• The Four Ships, suite, 1927

Chamber Works

These pieces were written for smaller groups of instruments:

• Piano Quintet in F minor
• Piano Quintet in E minor
• Quintet D Hn & String Quartet
• Quintet in E flat, Piano and Wind
• String Quartet Lyrical Cycle
• Piano Trio D minor
• Piano Trio G minor
• Piano Trio A minor