10 'lost' female musicians who deserve more recognition.

[Serial_Apologist]

You are right - nothing. She was the daughter of the organist Edwin Lemaire who was the composer of Moonlight and Roses - a song which was a favourite of my grandmother's. He had two marriages and I am not sure which one produced Iris. He also left Britain for America and I do not think that he ever came back. Does anybody know more?

Before my time Iris ran her own orchestra which did gigs around Yorkshire - using mainly players from the West Riding Orchestra which was employed daytime only top give educational concerts in schools. When I played for her, her activities were much reduced and, although they were done under the banner of the Lemaire Orchestra, they were actually fixed by people such as the composer Ernest Tomlinson.

If this was the 1930s. my mother, who ran a ladies' orchestra from Saltburn, would probably have known her; and maybe vice versa!

[Once Was 4]

If this was the 1930s. my mother, who ran a ladies' orchestra from Saltburn, would probably have known her; and maybe vice versa!

I have just checked Nicholas Kenyon's book on the BBCSO. Iris Lemare (not Lemaire) conducted the BBCSO in 1937: no mention of the Proms. I wonder if her CV was a bit economic with the truth?

Wikipedia says:

Lemare was born in London and was the daughter of Edwin Lemare,[3] and Elsie Reith.[4] She studied organ with George Thalben-Ball, but gave it up in favour of being a timpanist.[5] She did, however, win the Dove Prize for her skills as an organist.[2] In the early 1920s, she attended Bedales School and also trained at the Dalcroze Institute in Geneva.[6] Lemare studied at the Royal College of Music under Gordon Jacob and Malcolm Sargent,[5] from 1925 to 1929.[4] She was supported in her career in music by Hugh Allen, who encouraged her to take elocution and warned her about what he called "an appalling barrier" to women in conducting.[5] Lemare was rejected as a conductor for the Tunbridge Wells Orchestra by they "could not possibly employ a woman."[7]

In 1931, Lemare, Elisabeth Lutyens and Anne Macnaghten created a series of concerts showcasing British composers.[1] They performed 40 new works in these Macnaghten-Lemare Concerts,[1] which featured music written by Benjamin Britten, Gerald Finzi, Luytens, Elizabeth Machonchy, Alan Rawsthorne and Michael Tippett.[8] These series of concerts provided unknown composers with a platform and gave opportunities to young musicians.[6] The chamber orchestra assembled by Lemare included a majority of women string players.[9] The Musical Times wrote "There is nothing quite like these concerts in London; the concert givers get to grips with the real thing in a most delightful, unconventional way, and after an evening spent with them, one feels music is gloriously alive."[10] The concert series took place in the Ballet Club Theatre (later known as the Mercury Theatre).[11] When the series ran into financial trouble, Hubert Foss introduced Lemare to Robert Mayer and his wife, Dora Moulton, who supported three seasons of the Macnaghten-Lemare Concerts, although the last two seasons were known only as the Lemare Concerts after Macnaghten dropped out.[12] In 1937, the concerts came to an end.[13]

In 1935, she was the conductor of an opera company at Pollards.[4] Pollards was located in Loughton at No 30 Albion Hill.[14] The company performed an opera festival every two years between 1935 and 1939.[14] The war ended the opera festival: Pollards was used to house refugees and the family supporting the opera, the Howards, experienced losses during World War II.[15]

In 1937, she became the first woman to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra.[1] The Musical Times wrote in 1952 that "her engagement to conduct the B.B.C. Orchestra (Section E) on 15 April 1936 aroused much attention in the Press and provoked some light controversy."[16]

She conducted the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra in 1940 and around that time, also conducted at Oxford.[17] In 1945, she created the Lemare Orchestra.[17] The Lemare Orchestra featured soloists such as Geza Anda, Peter Donohoe, Joan Hammond and Benno Moiseivitsch.[2] Lemare conduced Opera Nova from 1970 to 1984.[4] In her later years, she lectured and worked as a judge and examiner.[2] She died in Askham Bryan on 23 April 1997.[1] Her remains were cremated.[2]

[johncorrigan]

Judee Sill - The Kiss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0feFedDW_iQ

[Lat-Literal]

.........Mari Boine, Amalia Rodrigues, Aziza Brahim, Çiğdem Aslan.

Ragini Rainu - although I have many questions about the direction.

And:

Mika Uchizato:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER2pzz0z2Pw

https://powerofokinawa.wordpress.com...ato-in-chatan/