A-Muse

This is a story about an often overlooked part of the late 18th century composers' circle, whose work had a profound influence on the evolution of classical music. The keyboard music of eighteenth-century female composers is not generally known. But their exciting and challenging works played an important role in shaping the musical landscape of the time. At the end of the 18th century, the rise of the piano, with its solo role in concertos and sonatas, was accompanied by the rise of female pianist-composers. Some of the best performing musicians were women. The heart of musical life was the salon, where the brilliant minds of the time, including philosophers, musicians and artists, gathered. Women have often been the performing musicians in the salon and in this way they have had a great impact on music, literary and art circles. Music by Mozart's student and co-performer Josephine Barbara Aurnhammer, blind composer and piano virtuoso Maria Theresia von Paradis, Margarethe Danzi and Marianna Auenbrugger.