Shena Fraser facts for kids
Shena Eleanor Fraser (born in 1910, died in 1993) was a talented Scottish musician. She was a pianist and a composer. She even used a secret name, Sebastian Scott, for some of her jazz music! Shena was born in Stirling, Scotland. She loved music from a young age.
About Shena Fraser
Shena studied music in London at the Royal College of Music. She learned to play the piano from Henry Wilson. She also studied how to write music with Herbert Howells, a famous composer. Her first big piano concert was in London in 1934.
Shena loved choral music, especially for women's voices. She also enjoyed teaching music to people who were just starting out. For four years, she was a Music Adviser for the National Federation of Women's Institutes. She also helped the Kent Music Committee for many years.
She wrote over 100 pieces of music. Many were for women's choirs or for students learning piano. Some of her fun jazz pieces were written under her secret name, Sebastian Scott.
Shena also helped other young musicians. She started the Faversham Subscription Concerts Society. This group helped new performers show their talents. With another piano teacher, Yvonne Enoch, she created Fraser-Enoch Publications. This company published music by young composers who were not yet famous.
Family Life
In 1934, Shena married Laurence Neame. He was a director at the Shepherd Neame Brewery. They had three sons and one daughter. Shena also had four grandchildren. After she got married, Shena taught piano lessons at home. She also taught a weekly class for young children, helping them learn about music by listening.
Shena's Music
Most of Shena's music was for singers and choirs. She wrote for people who loved to sing, even if they were not professional musicians.
Some of her well-known works for women's voices include:
- Carillon (from 1957)
- To Him Give Praise (from 1959–60)
- A Ring of Jewels (from 1975)
- A Boy was Born (from 1988)
She also wrote music for instruments. These include:
- A Sonatina for flute (from 1989)
- Two Sea Poems for two pianos (from 1988). These pieces were based on her earlier cantata, Full Fathom Five, which she wrote in 1972.
Selected Works
- A Boy Was Born, for women's voices (1979)
- A Ring of Jewels, a group of songs (1975)
- Carillon, a group of songs (1957)
- Full Fathom Five, a cantata (1972)
- To Give Him Praise, for women's voices (1959–60)
- Two Unison Songs, a group of songs
- Five Pairs, for violin and piano (1959)
- Hornpipe and Jig for two pianos (1954)
- Sea Poems for piano duo (1988)
- Sonatina for flute (1989)
