This past Sunday, September 5, was the 143rd birthday of Amy Beach!
I suppose it is fair to say that she is the best known of the still largely unknown, and unrecognized, contingent of historical women composers. This is due in large part to the work of Adrienne Fried Block. (Needless to say, her biography of Beach, Amy Beach: Passionate Victorian is an excellent text!)
In honor of Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, her incredible life as a virtuoso pianist and composer, here’s the first movement of her Gaelic Symphony.