Shy One: The Songs of Rebecca Clarke

Abstract

Abstract: Rebecca Clarke, 1886–1979, was a trailblazing British violist and composer. She was one of the first women to play in a professional symphony orchestra, and her compositions were exemplary, even though the press in her lifetime doubted they were written by a woman. This article provides a detailed biography of Clarke’s life, an overview of her general compositional style, pedagogical considerations for singing her music, and a closer look at eight of her strongest songs. For each song, a synopsis of the poem and musical analysis is presented, as well as details about range, tessitura, song length and suggested voice type.