Modulo Resources: Alice Mary Smith

We are excited to introduce our new arrangement of Alice Mary Smith’s Symphony in A minor, movement 4 (Allegro). Emma Oliver-Trend, our Artistic Director, has put together some resources to help you introduce the piece to your Modulo and a biography of the composer. Let’s explore!

An introduction to Alice Mary Smith from Artistic Director Emma Oliver-Trend

Warm ups for Alice Mary Smith

Alice Mary Smith biography

Alice Mary Smith, also known by her married name, Alice Mary Meadows White, was a ‘pioneering’ English composer from the early 19th century whose music remains just as powerful today as it was then.

Born on May 19, 1839, Smith’s major works include two symphonies, six concert overtures, an operetta and several choral works, among many others. Alice studied at The Royal Academy of Music (where she would later become a professor) and became the first known British woman to compose a symphony, with her Symphony No. 1 in C minor, at the age of just 24 – after having already published her first song aged 18, in 1863.

A review of her striking work in The Illustrated London News read: “... Miss Smith’s symphony especially, coming from the pen of a young lady, was a striking proof of sound studies and high attainments of the female votaries of the art in this country”.

Some of Smith’s other notable compositions include ‘Clarinet Sonata’ and ‘Duo Concertante for Pianoforte and Clarinet in A’, with many of her pieces heavily influenced by a long-standing interest in poetry – from her choice of texts for songs to the subjects of her concert overtures.

In 1884, Alice was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music, but fell ill with typhoid and died in London the same year.

As with other female composers of the time, Smith was sometimes forced to adopt a male pseudonym – Emil Künstler – to submit her compositions for publication as using a female name often led to immediate rejection.

Since 2010 however, Smith’s manuscripts have been housed in her name at the Royal Academy of Music Library and her musical legacy lives on.