Women composers of Western classical music are disproportionately absent from the music textbooks and concert programs that constitute the patriarchical Western canon, even though many women have composed music.
The reasons for women's absence are various. The musicologist Marcia Citron writing in 1990 noted that many works of musical history and anthologies of music had very few, or sometimes no, references to and examples of music written by women.Citron (1990), 102–103. Among the reasons for historical under-representation of women composers Citron has adduced problems of access to musical educationCitron (1990), 105–106. and to the male hierarchy of the musical establishment (performers, conductors, impresarios etc.);Citron (1990), 106–107. condescending attitudes of male reviewers, and their association of women composers with "salon music" rather than music of the concert platform;Citron (1990), 108–110. and denial of female creativity in the arts by philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant.Citron (1990), 111–112. All this needs to be considered in the perspective of restrictions against women's advancement in cultural, economic and political spheres over a long historical period.Citron (1990), 112–113.
Since such discrimination against women composers can be considered in the context of general societal attitudes about gender or perceived roles of men and women, many musicologists and critics have come to incorporate gender studies in assessing the history and practice of the art.
Some notable Western composers include: Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179), a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, and polymath; Fanny Hensel (1805–1847); Clara Schumann (1819–1896); Ethel Smyth (1858–1944); Amy Beach (1867–1944); Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979); Germaine Tailleferre (1892–1983); Lili Boulanger (1893–1918); Sofia Gubaidulina (1931–2025); Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023); and Judith Weir (born 1954 and the first woman to hold the office of Master of the King's Music).
Women composers are also listed alphabetically at List of women composers by name.
Before 16th century
Kassia (c.810 – c.865) Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) Herrad of Landsberg (c.1130–1195) Azalais de Porcairagues ( mid-12th century) Iseut de Capio (c.1140–?) Tibors de Sarenom (fl. mid-12th century) Marie de France (1175?–1225?) Alamanda de Castelnau (fl. second half of 12th century) Maria de Ventadorn (fl. late 12th century) Beatritz de Dia (fl. late 12th/early 13th centuries) Blanche of Castile (1188–1252) Castelloza (fl. early 13th century) Dame Margot (fl. 13th century) Gertrude of Dagsburg (fl. 13th century) Maroie de Dregnau de Lille (fl. 13th century) Dame Maroie (fl. 13th century) Sainte des Prez (fl. 13th century) Lorete (fl. 13th century) Garsenda de Proensa (fl. early 13th century) Birgitta of Sweden (c.1303 – c.1373)
16th century
Clementine de Bourges (unknown date – 1561) Gaspara Stampa (1523–1554) Maddalena Casulana (c. 1540 – c. 1590) Paola Massarenghi (fl. 1565–1585) Lucia Quinciani (born c. 1566, fl. 1611) Claudia Sessa (c. 1570 – between 1613 and 1619) Cesarina Ricci de Tingoli (born c. 1573, fl. 1597) Vittoria Aleotti (c.1575–after 1620) Sulpitia Cesis (1577–after 1619) Adriana Basile (c. 1580 – c. 1640) Francesca Caccini (1587–1640?) Caterina Assandra (c. 1590–after 1618) Alba Trissina (c. 1590–after 1638) Lucrezia Orsina Vizzana (1590–1662) Settimia Caccini (1591–1638?) Claudia Rusca (1593–1676)
17th century
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602–1678) Leonora Duarte (1610–1678) Leonora Baroni (1611–1670) Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1613–1676) Francesca Campana (c. 1615–1665) Barbara Strozzi (1619–1677) Isabella Leonarda (1620–1704) Mlle Bocquet (early 17th century–after 1660) Lady Mary Dering (1629–1704) Maria Francesca Nascinbeni (c. 1640–1680) Esther Elizabeth Velkiers (1640–after 1685) Countess Amalia Catharina of Waldeck (1640–1697) Antonia Bembo (c. 1640–c. 1720) Maria Cattarina Calegari (1644–1675) Marieta Morosina Priuli (fl. 1665) Mme Sicard (fl.1678) Rosa Giacinta Badalla (1660–1710) Angiola Teresa Moratori Scanabecchi (1662–1708) Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729) Françoise-Charlotte de Senneterre Ménétou (1679–1745) Maria Anna de Raschenau (fl. 1690s–1703) Anna Maria della Pietà (c. 1696–1782) Michielina della Pietà (fl. c. 1701–1744) Caterina Benedicta Grazianini (fl. 1705–15 [b.ca.1685]) Camilla de Rossi (fl. 1707–1710) Julie Pinel (fl. 1710–1737) Maria Margherita Grimani (fl. 1713–1718 [b.ca.1690]) Mrs Philarmonica (fl. 1715) Marie-Anne-Catherine Quinault (1695–1791)
1701–1750
Rosanna Scalfi Marcello (1704 or 1705–after 1742) Zanetta Farussi (1707–1776) Wilhelmine of Bayreuth (1709–1758) Mlle Guédon de Presles (early 18th century–1754) Barbara of Portugal (1711–1758) Agata Della Pietà (1712–1769) Luise Adelgunda Gottsched (1713–1762) Santa della Pietà (c. 1715?–after 1774) (fl. c. 1725–1750) Philippine Charlotte of Prussia (1716–1801) Mlle Duval (1718–after 1775) Elisabeth de Haulteterre (c. 1720?–after 1768) (fl. 1737–1768) Maria Teresa Agnesi (1720–1795) Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723–1787) Maria Antonia of Bavaria (1724–1780) Diamante Medaglia Faini (1724–1770) Miss Davis (c. 1726–after 1755) Elisabetta de Gambarini (1731–1765) Josina van Aerssen (Baroness Boetzelaer) (1733–1787) Mme Papavoine (born c. 1735, fl. 1755–61) Hélène-Louise Demars (b. c. 1736) Anna Bon (born 1738–1739) Anna Amalia, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1739–1807) Mlle Guerin (born c. 1739, fl. 1755) Isabelle de Charrière (Belle van Zuylen) (1740–1805) Elisabeth Olin (1740–1828) Maria Carolina Wolf (1742–1820) Anne Louise Brillon de Jouy, née Boyvin d'Hardancourt (1744–1824) Marianna von Martines (1744–1812) Maddalena Laura Sirmen (1745–1818) Marie Emmanuelle Bayon Louis (1746–1825) Genovieffa Ravissa de Turin (1745/50–1807) Henriette Adélaïde Villard de Beaumesnil (1748–1813) Gertrud Elisabeth Mara (1749–1833) Polly Young, or Maria Barthélemon (1749–1799) Elizabeth Anspach (1750–1828) Elizabeth Joanetta Catherine von Hagen (1750–1809/10)
1751–1800
Maria Anna Mozart (1751–1829) Corona Elisabeth Wilhelmine Schröter (1751–1802) Juliane Reichardt (Juliane Benda) (1752–1783) Jane Savage (1752/3–1824) Jeanne Renee de Bombelles (1753–1828) Charlotte von Brandenstein (1754–1813) Josepha Duschek (1754–1824) Maria Theresia Ahlefeldt (1755–1810) Francesca Lebrun (1756–1791) Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (1757–1806) Charlotte Caroline Wilhelmine Bachmann (1757–1817) Harriett Abrams (1758–1821) Josepha Barbara Auernhammer (1758–1820) Marianna von Auenbrugger (1759–1782) Marie-Elizabeth Cléry (1759–1809) Maria Rosa Coccia (1759–1833) Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759–1824) Sophia Maria Westenholz (1759–1838) Christina Charlotta Cederström (1760–1832) Katerina Maier (c. 1760–after 1800) Maria Hester Park, (1760–1813) Madame Ronssecy (fl. 1780–1800) Dorothea Jordan (1761–1816) Yekaterina Sinyavina (1761–1784) Adelheid Maria Eichner (1762–1787) Jane Mary Guest (c. 1762–1846) Ann Valentine (1762–1842) Anna Maria Crouch (1763–1805) Anna von Schaden (1763–1834) Helene de Montgeroult (1764–1836) Charlotte Wilhelmina Franziska Brandes (1765–1788) Elizabeth Billington (1765–1818) Jeanne-Hippolyte Devismes (1765–?1834) Magdalene Stirling (1765–1846) Anne-Marie Krumpholtz (1766–1813) Harriet Wainwright (c. 1766–1843) Caroline Wuiet (1766–1835) Cecilia Maria Barthélemon (1767–1859) Julie Candeille (1767–1834) Margarethe Danzi (1768–1800) Maria Theresa Bland (c. 1769–1838) Kateřina Veronika Anna Dusíkova (1769–1833) Nannette Streicher (1769–1833) Vincenta Da Ponte (fl. second half 18th century) Marianne Sessi (177?–1847) Klementyna Grabowska (Countess Clementine) (1771–1831) Lucile Grétry (1772–1790) Maria Frances Parke (1772–1822) Sophie Bawr (1773–1860) Maria Brizzi Giorgi (1775–1822) Sophia Corri Dussek (1775–1847) Margaret Essex (1775–1807) Sophie Gail (1775–1819) Wilhelmine von Troschke und Rosenwehrt (1775–1830) Sophie Gay (1776–1852) Mme. Tarbé des Sablons (1777–1855) Pauline Duchambge (1778–1858) Louise Reichardt (1779–1826) Ekaterina Likoshin (fl. 1800–1810) Sophie Lebrun (1781–1863) Charlotta Seuerling (1782–1828) Hortense de Beauharnais (1783–1837) Henriette Löfman (1784–1836) Therese Emilie Henriette Winkel (1784–1867) Bettina von Arnim (Bettina Brentano) (1785–1859) Catherina Cibbini-Kozeluch (1785–1858) Isabella Colbran (1785–1845) Fanny Krumpholtz Pittar (1785–1815) Marie Bigot (1786–1820) Caroline Boissier-Butini (1786–1836) Le Sénéchal de Kerkado (c. 1786–after 1805) Marie Nicole Simonin Pollet (1787-1864) Wilhelmine Schwertzell (1787–1863) Elena Asachi (1789–1877) Augustine Renaud d`Allen (1798–after 1821) Maria Agata Szymanowska (1789–1831) Harriet Browne (1790–1858) Elise Schlick (1790–1855) Gertrude van den Bergh (1793–1840) Amalie, Princess of Saxony (1794–1870) Olivia Buckley (born mid-1790s–after 1845) Mme Delaval (fl. 1791–1802) Hedda Wrangel (1792–1833) Caroline Ridderstolpe (1793–1878) Helene Liebmann (1796–1835) Mathilda d'Orozco (1796–1863) Emilie Zumsteeg (1796–1857) Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797–1848) Virginie Morel-du Verger (1799–1869) Marie Schauff (fl. 1799–1844) Maria Fredrica von Stedingk (1799–1868) Filipina Brzezińska-Szymanowska (1800–1886) Susanna Nerantzi (fl. 1830–1840)
1801–1850
Onestina Ricotti (19th century) Caroline Sawath (19th century) Theresa Schaeffer (19th century) Marianna Bottini (1802–1858) Marion Dix Sullivan (1802–1860) Eliza Flower (1803–1846) Anna Sick (1803–1895) Isidora Zegers (1803–1869) Louise Farrenc (1804–1875) Friederike Proch Benesch (1805–1872) Louise Bertin (1805–1877) Fanny Hensel (1805–1847) Elizabeth Masson (1806–1865) Adelaide Orsola Appignani (1807–1884) Helen Blackwood (1807–1867) Emma Hartmann (1807–1851) H. Servier (1807–1858) Elise Rondonneau (fl. 1827–1860s) Princess Cecilia of Sweden (1807–1844) Caroline Wiseneder (1807–1868) Maria Malibran (1808–1836) Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton (1808–1877) Anna Caroline Oury (1808–1880) Leopoldine Blahetka (1809–1885) Hanna Brooman (1809–1887) Baronne Almaury de Maistre (1809–1875) Johanna Kinkel (1810–1858) Louise Geneviève de Le Hye (1810–1838) Loïsa Puget (1810–1889) Elise Schmezer (1810–1856) Alicia Ann Scott (1810–1900) Josefa Somellera (1810–1885) Carolina Uccelli (1810–1885) Ann Mounsey (1811–1891) Emilie Mayer (1812–1883) Amalia Redec (1812–1885) Sophie Seipt (1812–1889) Mathilde Ringelsberg (1813–1877) Julie von Webenau née Baroni-Cavalcabò (1813–1887) Delphine von Schauroth (1814–1887) Thérèse Wartel (1814–1865) Fredrikke Egeberg (1815–1861) Josephine Lang (1815–1880) Lucja Rucinska (1817, 1818 or 1820–1882) Mary Anne à Beckett (1817–1863) Harriet Anne Smart (1817–1883) Caroline Orger (1818–1892) Caroline Reinagle (1818–1892) Laura Wilson Barker (1819–1905) Ellen Dickson (1819–1878) Jacobine Gjertz (1819–1862) Clara Schumann (1819–1896) Elizabeth Stirling (1819–1895) Augusta Browne (1820–1882) Felicita Casella (c. 1820–after 1865) Emilie Hammarskjöld (1821–1854) Clara Angela Macirone (1821–1895) Charlotte Sainton-Dolby (1821–1885) Maria Anna Stubenberg (1821–1912) Pauline Viardot (1821–1910) Betty Boije (1822–1854) Faustina Hasse Hodges (1822–1895) Hermine Rudersdorff (1822–1882) Caroline Samuel (1822–1851) Amalie Scholl (1823–1879) Louise Strantz (1823–1909) Maria Vespermann (1823–1882) Emma Maria Macfarren (1824–1895) Marie Siegling (1824–1919) Jane Sloman (1824–after 1850) Virginia Gabriel (1825–1877) Kate Loder (1825–1904) Nina Stollewerk (1825–1914) Victorine Farrenc (1826–1859) Augustine Lorotte (1826–19??) Maria Lindsay (1827–1898) Teresa Milanollo (1827–1904) Julia Niewiarowska-Brzozowska (1827–1891)