Katharine Emily Eggar facts for kids

Katherine Emily Eggar (born January 5, 1874 – died August 15, 1961) was an amazing English musician. She was a talented pianist and composer. Katherine was also a strong supporter of women's rights, especially in music. She believed women should have more chances to create and perform music. She once said, "Women are already challenging conventions in all kinds of ways… We believe in a great future for women composers." This shows how much she wanted to help women in music.

A Life in Music and Advocacy

Early Studies and Achievements

Katherine Eggar was born and lived in London, England. She studied piano in Berlin, Germany, at the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory. She also studied in Brussels, Belgium, at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique. In London, she learned how to compose music at the Royal Academy of Music, finishing her studies in 1895. When she was just 19 years old, Katherine became the first woman to perform her own chamber music at a public concert in London. This was a big step for women in music!

Helping Women in Music

In 1911, Katherine Eggar helped start an important group called the Society of Women Musicians in London. She co-founded it with singer Gertrude Eaton and music expert Marion M. Scott. Katherine even served as the president of the Society from 1914 to 1915. She organized regular meetings for women composers in the Society. She also wrote a column called "Women's Doings in Chamber Music" with Marion Scott. This column was in a music magazine called The Music Student.

Katherine was very aware that female composers and musicians faced many challenges. She worked hard to create new opportunities for women in the world of music. She believed that a strong group of principled women musicians could really change public opinion about music and improve how music was supported.

Shakespeare and Research

Besides music, Katherine Eggar was also very interested in William Shakespeare. She collected many books about him. She wrote two pamphlets: "Shakespeare in His True Colors" (1951) and "The Unified Shadow" (1954). She later gave her collection of 253 books to the Senate House Library at the University of London.

Katherine also spent over 30 years researching the life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. She believed he was the real author of Shakespeare's plays. She planned to publish her research, but she passed away before her book could be finished.

In the 1950s, Katherine Eggar lived at 40c Palace Road in Westminster, London.

Musical Works

Katherine Eggar composed many songs and pieces for small groups of instruments (chamber music). Here are some of her selected works:

Chamber Music

• Piano Quartet in D minor and major, 1906
• Piano Trio in G minor, 1905
• Rhapsodic Impression for violin, viola and piano, 1928
• String Quartet, 1931
• Cello Sonata in C minor
• Suite for cello and piano: Prelude, ballade, landler, finale, 1908
• Idyll for flute and piano, 1910

Piano Music

• Legends of the Norse Gods: Wodin, Thor, Freia, Seater, Sun, Moon, Tiu
• A Tarantella, 1914
• Four characteristic sketches: The Old Castle, The Wishing Well, Romance, At the Fair.
• Moonrise, 1906
• Sun in Springtime, 1935
• Duets for Fun- eight short pieces for child and pianist, 1934

Voice and Instruments

• I must go down to the sea tonight', scena for baritone and small orchestra
• My Soul is an enchanted boat' words by Percy Bysshe Shelley for voice and piano quintet, or piano and organ.
• Trios: 'Autumn Leaves', 'May Wind' for first and second sopranos and alto with accompaniment of piano quartet (also arranged for female choir and piano), 1909
• Pan in a City Stone' for soprano, baritone, with flute and piano accompaniment

Six songs from Forbes 'Cantus, and I Fancies' (17thC.)

Voice and Piano

• Hope of Spring, two part songs for female voices or soprano and baritone with piano
• Wolfram's Dirge' with piano and cello ad lib words by Thomas Lovell Beddoes, Cycle of Gaelic love lyrics, 1906
• Curtsy to the Moon, words by H Taylor, 1906
• Old Gaelic lullaby
• A Fairy Barcarolle' (A lake and a fairy boat) words by Thomas Hood, 1920
• May Wind' for three voices and piano, 1909
• The Purple Moors, 1908
• Red Clover
• Remember me, my Dear' from Forbes 'Cantus, songs and fancies' 1682- one of six, 1909
• Song of the Vagabond
• The Holly Bough and the Misletoe – A Christmas Carol words by W E Grogan