Women Composers

This three-volume series of piano music by women composers is a progressive compendium of educational literature with a broad repertoire from the 17th century to the present day. For each piece, the editor has written short instructions with rehearsal tips as well as biographical notes on the women composers. The collection covers all levels of difficulty from easy (volume 1) to medium (volume 2) to difficult (volume 3) and is an indispensable addition to lessons and concerts.



Melanie Spanswick – pianist, author, teacher, and composer – graduated from the Royal College of Music with a Master's degree in Performance Studies. Melanie is a widely experienced examiner and adjudicator, and frequently gives master classes, workshops and presentations throughout the UK and internationally. As a pianist, she has performed and broadcast worldwide.

Melanie has written and edited piano books for the international market, to critical acclaim. She is a regular contributor to Pianist magazine and Piano Professional (EPTA), and her piano compositions have been featured in various publications and included on many music festival syllabuses.



Musical Terms - Preface - Elisabetta de Gambarini (1731–1765): Minuet - Florence Ada Goodrich (1850–1928): Water Sprite - Narcisa Freixas (1859–1926): L'Ocell - Felicitas Kukuck (1914–2001): The Boat - Barbara Heller (*1936): Joker - Melanie Spanswick (*1969): Mirage - Rachael Forsyth (*1982): Soggy Shoes Blues - Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Menuet - Marjory Kennedy-Fraser (1857–1930): A Harvest Reel - Hedwige Chrétien (1859-1944): Pierrot sautille - Gertrud Orff-Willert (1914–2000): Andante con moto - Ivana Loudová (1941–2017): The Sleeping Beauty - Wendy Hiscocks (*1963): Fig and Fennel - Vera Mohrs (*1984): Two Cats Playing - Anna Bon (1738–after 1767): Andante - Maria Szymanowska (1789–1831): Mazurka - Elfrida Andrée (1841–1929): Allegro moderato - Agathe Backer Grøndahl (1847–1907): Song of Youth - Ethel Smyth (1858–1944): Minuet - Mélanie Bonis (1858–1937): Frère Jacques - Samantha Ward (*1982): Rockin' Fingers