Mary Helena Synge facts for kids

Mary Helena Synge (born July 8, 1840 – died February 5, 1917) was a talented Irish composer, pianist, and singer. She spent many years living in England, where she passed away.

Who Was Mary Helena Synge?

Mary Helena Synge was born in a town called Parsonstown in Ireland. She came from a family full of musicians and writers. Her family had a long history, even including an archbishop!

Being part of such a creative family likely helped Mary develop her own musical talents from a young age.

Her Musical Training

Mary Helena Synge traveled to Brussels, Belgium, to study music. She attended the famous Royal Conservatory of Brussels. There, she learned to play the piano and trained her voice for singing.

After her studies, Mary became a skilled pianist. She performed in many concerts, called recitals, across both Ireland and England.

Performing for Audiences

Mary's piano recitals were often very popular. In 1883, she gave a concert in London that received great reviews. People really enjoyed her playing!

Later that same year, she performed in Cork, Ireland. In 1893, she played at the Antient Concert Rooms in Dublin. These performances showed her dedication to music.

Mary Synge's Compositions

Besides performing, Mary Helena Synge also wrote her own music. She was a composer, meaning she created musical pieces. Her music was published by several companies in London. This meant her songs and piano pieces could be bought and played by others.

Piano Pieces

Mary wrote several pieces for the piano. These often showed her skill and creativity.

• Album Leaves (a collection of pieces)
• Danse Caprice
• Impromptu
• Kalakaua Gavotte
• Royal Marine Artillery Gavotte

Songs for Voice

She also composed many songs that were meant to be sung. These vocal pieces often had words written by other authors.

• “Eternity”
• “Farewell” (words by Miss E. Barnard)
• “Fate”
• “Happy Children”
• “Spring” (written for three voices to sing together)
• “Spring Story” (words by Emmoren)
• “Time”