Florence Ashton Marshall facts for kids
Florence Ashton Marshall (born Thomas) was a talented English woman who lived from 1843 to 1922. She was a writer, a composer (someone who writes music), and a conductor (someone who leads an orchestra). Florence was born in Rome, Italy. She learned music at the famous Royal Academy of Music with well-known teachers like William Sterndale Bennett.
Life and Musical Journey
Florence Thomas married Julian Marshall in 1864. He was a businessman, writer, and also collected music. They had three daughters together.
Just like her husband, Florence wrote articles for a very important music book called Grove's Dictionary. Some of her writings were so good that they were kept in later versions of the book.
Florence was chosen to be a member of the Philharmonic Society. This is a very respected musical group. She also led the South Hampstead Orchestra as a conductor. This orchestra was big enough to play complex pieces. For example, they performed a symphony by the famous composer Johannes Brahms with her leading them. She also conducted a violin concerto by Camille Saint-Saëns, with a famous violinist named Mischa Elman playing the solo part.
Florence and her husband also helped start the Royal Musical Association. This group helps people learn more about music. Florence Marshall passed away in 1922.
Her Creative Works
Florence Marshall wrote many different kinds of music. She composed songs for solo singers and also songs for groups of singers. She also created music to help people learn, and even wrote operettas. An operetta is like a short, light opera, often with spoken parts and singing.
Here are some of her well-known musical works:
- The Masked Shepherd, an operetta (1879)
- Prince Sprite, a fairy operetta (1897)
Besides music, Florence Marshall was also a writer. In 1883, she published a book about the life of the famous composer George Frideric Handel. She also wrote a book in 1889 called Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.
