SMYTH, (Dame) Ethel
b London, 22 April 1858
d Woking, Surrey, 9 May 1944, aged eighty-six

She was born into a prosperous musical family. In 1877 she entered the Leipzig Conservatory, then had private tuition. Her worth as a composer was recognised quite early. Around 1909 she became involved with the suffragette movement. She wrote little music in her later years, partly due to increasing deafness, but continued to write excellent prose. She was given an honorary DMus from Durham University in 1910 and her DBE in 1922.

1887 (29)

Violin Sonata in A minor

1890 (32)

Anthony and Cleopatra, overture

Serenade in D major for orchestra

1891 (33)

Suite for strings

1893 (35)

Mass in D major

1898 (40)

Fantastic, opera

1901 (43)

The Forest, opera

1902 (44)

String Quartet in E minor (completed c1912)

1906 (48)

The Wreckers, opera

1911 (53)

March of the Women, for orchestra

Three Songs of Sunrise, for unaccompanied chorus

1916 (58)

The Boatswain's Mate, opera

1920 (62)

Dreamings, for chorus

1923 (65)

Fete galante, opera

Soul's Joy, for unaccompanied chorus

1926 (68)

Entente Cordiale, opera

A Spring Canticle, for chorus and orchestra

Sleepless Dreams, for chorus and orchestra

1927 (69)

Concerto for violin and horn (also known as Horn Concerto)

1930 (72)

The Prison, for soprano, baritone, chorus, and orchestra