Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944

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Composer, author, and feminist.

From the description of Letters, 1908-1934, bulk 1933-1934. (Washington State University). WorldCat record id: 36312849

English composer.

From the description of Letters and scrapbook. 1877-1939 (bulk) [microform]. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702690852

From the description of Autograph letter signed, from E.M. Smyth to Mr. Kroll, Frimhurst, Farnboro Station, Hants., 1893 March 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122384578

From the description of Letters and scrapbook. 1877-1939 (bulk). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702162747

Epithet: DBE, composer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000496.0x00010c

English composer, writer, and suffragist.

From the description of Ethel Smyth collection, 1910-1962. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 68804796

Originally published 1929; edited from the condensed score, 1938.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Two interlinked French folk-melodies : for small orchestra / Ethel Smyth ; [ed. by Arthur Cohn]. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 54802372

Dame Ethel Mary Smyth (1858-1944) was a music composer, author, and feminist. Born in Sidcup, England, she showed early musical talent and waged a successful battle with her father for permission to study at the Conservatorium in Leipzig. She composed numerous works including chamber music, oratorios, and operas. A number of her compositions were performed in concert in England as well as in Germany. She was the first woman to compose music in the largest forms of opera, oratorio and concerto, making an important breakthrough for women in the field of music. Smyth's interest in women's rights in the music world drew her into the larger movement for women's suffrage. She became a militant suffragette and feminist, served a term in prison and became a close friend of Emmeline Pankhurst. Her literary works include several autobiographies.

From the description of Ethel Mary Smyth Letters, 1894-1937. (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 613658664

From the description of Ethel Mary Smyth Letters [microform], 1894-1937. WorldCat record id: 747990730

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Letters and scrapbook. 1877-1939 (bulk). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf BOULT PAPERS: (SERIES II) Vol. xix. General correspondence; undated.ff. 89. Overall size 296 x 216mm.1. ff. 1-54. Letters sorted by author’s surname (P – Z).2. ff. 55-57. Letters signed with initials and sorted by initial of the surname.3. ff. 58-68.... British Library
creatorOf ELISABETH LUTYENS CORRESPONDENCE: letters written to the composer Elisabeth Lutyens; 1922-1973. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent. The writers include Ernest Ansermet, Sir Adrian Boult, Edward J. Dent (partly to Edwin Evans), John Ireland (par..., 1922-1973 British Library
creatorOf Woolf, Virginia, 1882-1941. Virginia Woolf collection of papers, 1882-1984 bulk (1912-1940). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Correspondence and other papers of Arthur Sullivan, W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert, and related persons, 1834-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Hofstra University. Library. Special Collections. Miscellaneous manuscripts M-Z, 1819-1974. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Correspondence to Morley Roberts, 1921. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf MACNAGHTEN CONCERTS COLLECTION. Vol. XVIII (ff. 183+iii). Correspondence, etc.: 1. ff. 1-38. Letters to Edwin Evans from Lennox Berkeley, Lord Berners, Gustav Holst, Geoffrey and J. M. Keynes, Constant Lambert, Ethel Smyth, Ralph Vaughan Williams and..., 1930-1976 British Library
referencedIn Somerville and Ross Manuscript Collection, 1873 Queen's University, Belfast
referencedIn Irons, Evelyn, 1900-. Evelyn Irons correspondence with Vita Sackville-West, 1931-1962. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Ethel Smyth: Letters and Scrapbook, 1877-1944? Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Vol. V (ff. 178). H-W.includes:ff. 1-3 Patrick Arthur Sheldon Hadley, composer: Letters to E. Chapman from Patrick Arthur Sheldon Hadley: 1935-1941.f. 4 Grace Barrons Richardson, organist: Patrick Arthur Sheldon Hadley, composer: Letter to Grace ... British Library
creatorOf Vol. CCXXXVIII (ff. 167). 1913-1924.Ethel Mary Smyth, DBE; composer: Correspondence with Society of Authors of and rel. to Ethel Mary Smyth: 1913-1943., 1913-1924 British Library
referencedIn Edith OEnone Somerville collection of papers, 1886-1938 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
creatorOf G. K. CHESTERTON PAPERS. VOL. LV (ff. 146). Correspondence with:1. ff. 1-2. Pupils of Sacré Cœur Convent School, Timaru, New Zealand; [1928]. Forwarded by C. C. Martindale.2. ff. 3-5v. Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel; 1911.3. ff. 6-7v. Doro..., 1892-1936 British Library
creatorOf LETTERS TO EDWARD CLARK. Vol. II (ff. 193). L-W, including letters of:-(a) Arnold Schoenberg, mainly relating to arrangements for a performance of the 'Gurrelieder', 27 Jan. 1928; 1921-1933. Includes (f. 71) a postcard from Paris, saying that he had..., 1921-1933 British Library
creatorOf Vol. X (ff. 452). 1914-1916.includes:f. 1 John Henderson, Secretary, National Liberal Club: Letter to G. B. Shaw of John Henderson: 1914.f. 2 Robert Loraine, MC; actor and aviator: Correspondence with G. B. Shaw of Robert Loraine: 1906?, 1914: P..., 1914-1916 British Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Letters and scrapbook. 1877-1939 (bulk) [microform]. Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf AUTOGRAPH ALBUM of Mary Enid Evelyn Layard, wife of Sir Austen Henry Layard, P.C., G.C.B., kept mainly at Venice; Sept. 1881 (f. 1)-1912, n.d. Partly Arabic, Greek and cuneiform. Musical quotations on ff. 11, 16, 25, 27, 31, 34. Most of the signatori..., 1881-1912 British Library
creatorOf Vol. xxv. (ff. 252). [1899?]-1922, n.d.includes:f. 1 Guenther Gottlieb Carl Eugen von Jagow, German Foreign Minister: Letter to H. W. Steed of Guenther Gottlieb Carl Eugen von Jagow: 1899?: Fr. and Germ. f. 3 Professor Friedrich Paulsen, German philo..., 1899-1922 British Library
referencedIn Enid Bagnold papers, 1912-1971 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Ethel Smyth collection. McMaster University
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Autograph letter signed, from E.M. Smyth to Mr. Kroll, Frimhurst, Farnboro Station, Hants., 1893 March 6. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf DAME ETHEL SMYTH: letters to her doctor, Professor Janos Plesch: 1935-1942. Partly German. Purchased at Sotheby's, 27 Nov. 1980, lot 311. Paper; ff. 51+26*. British Library arrangement., 1935-1942 British Library
creatorOf Variations to Deed of Trust and register of members on incorporation under Articles of Association; 1915-28.ff. 15. Largest size, 380 x 240mm.As follows:—1. ff. 1-10. Deeds of Appointment of new Trustees under the terms of the original trust deed of ..., 1915-1928 British Library
referencedIn Woolf, Virginia, 1882-1941. Miscellaneous letters, 1930-1933. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Two interlinked French folk-melodies : for small orchestra / Ethel Smyth ; [ed. by Arthur Cohn]. Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Library
creatorOf MS Mus. 1221. Miscellaneous 19th century letters and music.ff. 122. Largest size 36 x 26mm.A. William Croft (b.1678, d.1727): ‘O Lord thou hast searched me out’, for mixed voices; [after circa 1720]. Copy. Caption title (f. 1r) reads ‘This is a Vers..., 1715-1931 British Library
creatorOf ETHEL SMYTH ‘Two Interlinked French Folk Melodies’; n.d. Autograph.ff. vi+14 350 x 270mm.Ethel Mary Smyth, DBE; composer: 'Two interlinked French Folk Melodies' by Ethel Mary Smyth: n.d.: Autogr. British Library
creatorOf Vol. CXVII. 1906-1909.Charles de Sousy Ricketts, alias 'Jean Paul Raymond'; RA: Thomas Robert Way, artist and printmaker: Letters to Thomas Robert Way from Charles de Sousy Ricketts: [1906]-1907.Robert Baldwin Ross, literary executor of Oscar Wilde: ..., 1906-1909 British Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Ethel Smyth collection, 1910-1962. University of Michigan
referencedIn BOULT PAPERS: (SERIES II) Vol. xi. General correspondence; 1973-1976.ff. 195. Overall size 296 x 228mm.includes:f. 1 Lucien Needham, Professor of Music, University of Lethbridge, Alberta: Letter to Sir A. C. Boult: 1973: Typewritten, signed.f. 2 ..., 1973-1976 British Library
creatorOf STRACHEY PAPERS (20TH CENTURY SERIES). Vol. XLV (ff. 243). 1. ff. 1-7. Fanny Elizabeth Sidebottom; 1912, 1928. 2. ff. 8-11. Frank Sidgwick; 1908, 1913. 3. f. 12. Edith Louisa Sitwell, poet; n.d. 4. ff. 13-19. Sir Francis Osbert Sitwell, 5th Bart.; 19..., 1901-1954 British Library
creatorOf 'THE WRECKERS': opera by Ethel Smyth, (words, H. B. Brewster, English translation by the composer and Alma Strettell) ; circa 1906-1939. Copyist's full score, annotated libretti, and other performance material. With autograph annotations. Partly Germ..., approximately 1906-1939 British Library
creatorOf MS Mus. 1592. Letters of composers: A collection of letters of British composers, performers, promoters and publishers; 1825-1929; n.d. All names are in the index to this catalogue. Includes letters relating to Sacred Harmonic Society performances, f..., 1825-1929 British Library
creatorOf DAME ETHEL SMYTH: letters to S. B. Hobsbaum in Berlin, concerning possible productions of her opera, The Wreckers; 1929, n.d. The first sheet of the final letter is missing. Purchased at Sotheby's, 23 July 1982, lot 48. Paper; ff. 15. British Library..., 1929 British Library
creatorOf G. Arrangements (see also vols lxxvi, lxxxiv-lxxxv).71795. HUMPHREY SEARLE COLLECTION. Vol. lxxv. Searle’s arrangements and transcriptions of works by other composers.ff. 77. Largest size 365 x 275mm.1. ff. 1-4. Thomas Arne: [Rule Britania, from Alfr... British Library
creatorOf Somerville, E. Œ. (Edith Œnone), 1858-1949. Edith OEnone Somerville collection of papers, 1886-1938. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Vol. VI (ff. 235). S-Z.includes:ff. 1-9 Charles Camille Saint Saëns, composer: Letters to P. Pitt: 1909-1913.: Fr.f. 11 Joseph Salmon: Letter to P. Pitt: 1927.: Fr.f. 12 M. Salmon ten Hang: Letter to P. Pitt: 1927.: Fr.ff. 15-35 G. Mario Samm... British Library
creatorOf Vol. CCXXXIX (ff. 265). 1925-1943.Ethel Mary Smyth, DBE; composer: Correspondence with Society of Authors of and rel. to Ethel Mary Smyth: 1913-1943., 1925-1943 British Library
creatorOf MUSICAL LEAGUE PAPERS. Vol. III (ff. 92). 1. ff. 1-47b. Letters, etc., of Ernest Newman, Frederick Delius, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar, Percy Grainger, Ethel Smyth and other members of the League, mostly to Dr William Gray McNaught, comm..., 1907-1913 British Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Ethel Mary Smyth Letters, 1894-1937. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, UNCG University Libraries
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Ethel Mary Smyth Letters [microform], 1894-1937. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Letters : London and Woking, to Laurence Housman, 1932 Jan. 3 and [19--] Jan. 25. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn G K Chesterton Papers, 1877-1988 British Library: Western Manuscripts
creatorOf ‘Original letters’: Smart – Stanislaus (ff. 278); 1820-1913, n.d.includes:ff. 1-2 William Watts, Secretary, Philharmonic Society: Charles Frederick Smart, double bass player, brother of George: Letters to [W. Watts] from Charles Frederick Smart: 18..., 1820-1913 British Library
creatorOf Brown, Timothy J., 1965-. Dreams : for mezzo-soprano and orchestra / Timothy James Brown. University of Wisconsin - Madison, General Library System
referencedIn ETHEL SMYTH COLLECTION. Musical compositions of Ethel Mary Smyth, D.B.E. 1922 (b. 1858, d. 1944); 1887-1938. Mostly autograph. Further music manuscripts of Dame Ethel are Add. MSS. 46857-46863, containing early unpublished works; Add. MS. 49196 is an..., 1887-1938 British Library
creatorOf Ralph Vaughan Williams: Correspondence, 1926-1930 British Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. Letters, 1908-1934, bulk 1933-1934. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn Dame Ethel Smyth Manuscripts, ca. 1870s-1880s Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf Morrell, Ottoline Violet Anne Cavendish-Bentinck, Lady, 1873-1938. Ottoline Morrell Collection, 1882-1946 (bulk 1882-1938). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn ETHEL SMYTH COLLECTION Second Series (Vols. XVIII-XXIV)Early musical works, mostly unpublished, and miscellaneous sketches of Ethel Mary Smyth, D.B.E. 1922 (b. 1858, d. 1944), supplementary to Add. MSS. 45934-45950; 1876-1930. Mostly autograph. Most ..., 1876-1930 British Library
creatorOf A. Letters to the conductor and composer Leslie Heward (b.1897, d.1943) and his widow Leonore; 1935-47, n.d. Arranged alphabetically; the correspondents are listed in the index. Purchased at Sotheby’s, 1 Dec. 1995 (lot 182).ff. 1-74.Leslie Hays Hewar..., 1935-1947 British Library
creatorOf Praeger, Ferdinand, 1815-1891. Impromptu [in B flat major] / Ferdinand Praeger. SUNY at Buffalo, University at Buffalo
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. [Diaries] [microform] University of Michigan
referencedIn ‘Original letters’: Vianesi – Whitworth (ff. 252); 1816-1913, n.d.includes:f. 1 Auguste Charles Léonard François Vianesi, composer and conductor: Stanley Lucas, Secretary, Philharmonic Society: Letter to [S. Lucas] from Auguste Charles Léonard Fran..., 1816-1913 British Library
creatorOf BOULT PAPERS: (SERIES II) Vol. vi. General correspondence; 1921-1930.ff. 199. Overall size 271 x 267mm.includes:ff. 1-2, 33, 64 Gustav Theodore Holst, composer: Letters and postcards to A. C. Boult: 1918-1928: Partly autogr., partly typewritten, ca..., 1921-1930 British Library
creatorOf 'MAIN BOOK (MUSIC)' OF ETHEL MARY SMYTH, D.B.E. (b. 1858, d. 1944); 1936-1943. Autograph notebook, apparently first written in 1936-1937, but thoroughly revised in 1938 and altered in detail up to October 1943. Contents:-(1) Catalogue of her publish..., 1936-1943 British Library
creatorOf Royal correspondence; 1821-1976.ff. 227.Arranged in the following order: letters written on behalf of:—1. ff. 1-158. Sovereigns: Prince Leopold, later Leopold I of Belgium, Queen Adelaide, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Edward VII, Queen Alexandra, G..., 1821-1976 British Library
creatorOf STAINER LETTERS: letters from composers and musicians to Sir John Stainer (1840-1901), organist and composer, and his son, J. F. R. Stainer; 1860-1932, n.d. Including letters from Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Bax, Grove and Walford Davies. Purchas..., 1860-1932 British Library
referencedIn Letters, notecards, playbills and scores by musicians, 1833-1925. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn (ff. 132). O-Y and unidentified.includes:ff. 1, 2 Art. Photographs: Terence O'Brien, actor and director: Photographs of Terence O'Brien: 1928?, 1948?: Signed.f. 3 Hon Brynhild Popham, afterwards Sherrard née Olivier; daughter of Baron Olivier: A... British Library
creatorOf MS Mus. 242. DAME ETHEL SMYTH: Serenade in D major for orchestra; 1889. Full score. Copy, in ink, signed by the composer. The work was commissioned by August Manns and first performed by his Crystal Palace Orchestra on 26 April 1890. Presented by Gar..., 1889 British Library
creatorOf Original letters: supplementary volume.ff. 265.1. ff. 1-15. Correspondence of William Watts (secretary of the Philharmonic Society 1815-47); 1816-26, n.d. Included are letters from J. H. Griesbach, Henry Smart and Thomas Lindsay Willman. With a lette..., 1816-1976 British Library
creatorOf BOULT PAPERS. Vol. II (ff. 247). Yehudi Menuhin, Hubert Parry, Lord Reith, Jean Sibelius, Ethel Smyth, Charles Villiers Stanford, Donald Francis Tovey, Bruno Walter, William Walton, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Malcolm Williamson.includes:f. 1 Vally Las... British Library
referencedIn Ottoline Morrell Collection TXRC98-A17., 1882-1946, (bulk 1882-1938) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Irons, Evelyn, 1900-. Evelyn Irons correspondence with Vita Sackville-West, 1931-1962. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Susan Groag Bell's, An Annotated bibliography of British Women's autobiographies, 1790-1950 :, research and reference materials, 1986-1998 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf MS Mus. 241. DAME ETHEL SMYTH: ‘Fête Galante, A Dance-Dream in One Act’ to a libretto by the composer after Maurice Baring’s story of that name, versified by Edward Shanks; [1922]. Vocal score. Copy, in ink, with stage directions, rehearsal letters a..., 1922 British Library
creatorOf Smyth, Ethel, 1858-1944. [Letter] 1928 Jan. 2, Woking [to] Mrs. Drinkwater [Daisy Kennedy], [London?] / Ethel Smyth. Libraries Australia
referencedIn Virginia Woolf collection of papers, 1882-1984, 1912-1940 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
creatorOf 'Fête Galante': opera, described as 'A Dance-Dream' (f. 3), in one act by Dame Ethel Smyth (libretto, the composer after Maurice Baring, versified by Edward Shanks); 1922. Autograph. Full score. Dated 6 Nov. 1922 (f. 11v). The manuscript makes provis..., 1922 British Library
creatorOf COLEMAN PAPERS. Vol. II (ff. 104). Letters from poets whose works Ellen Coleman set to music and to musicians who performed her compositions; 1918-1954, n.d. Partly French. Also included are printed papers and photographs. Arranged alphabetically by ..., 1918-1954 British Library
creatorOf RUTLAND BOUGHTON CORRESPONDENCE. Vol. III (ff. 139). Shaw-Y, including:-(a) Dame Ethel Smyth; 1921-1938. Ff. 15-15b printed, in part, on pp. 83-4. ff. 3-29b;-(b) Edith Helen, wife of Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry; [1923?..., 1921-1938 British Library
creatorOf WOOD PAPERS. Vol. IV (ff. 186). Correspondence; 1923-1958, n.d. Contents: 1. ff. 1-82. Dame Ethel Smyth; 1923-1944, n.d. 2. ff. 83-127. Bruno Walter; 1939-1951. 3. ff. 128-138. Sir William Walton; 1943-1946. 4. ff. 139-168. Ralph Vaughan Williams and..., 1923-1958 British Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bagnold, Enid. person
associatedWith Balfour, Betty, Lady, b. 1867. person
associatedWith Baring, Maurice, 1874-1945. person
associatedWith Beecham, Thomas, Sir, 1879-1961. person
associatedWith Bell, Susan G. person
associatedWith Bell, Susan Groag person
associatedWith Brewster, H. B. (Henry Bennet), 1850-1908. person
associatedWith Brown, Timothy J., 1965- person
associatedWith Bryan, Gordon, 1895-. person
associatedWith Casals, Pablo, 1876-1973. person
associatedWith Cowen, Frederic H. (Frederic Hymen), 1852-1935. person
associatedWith Dame Ethel Smyth, 1858-1944 person
associatedWith Edith Anna Oenone Somerville, 1858-1949 | Violet Martin, 1862-1915 person
correspondedWith Ethel Smyth person
correspondedWith Eugénie, Empress, consort of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1826-1920 person
associatedWith Hofstra University. Library. Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Housman, Laurence, 1865-1959. person
associatedWith Irons, Evelyn, 1900- person
correspondedWith Kennedy, Daisy, 1893-1981 person
associatedWith Lytton, Constance, Lady, 1869-1923. person
associatedWith Morrell, Ottoline Violet Anne Cavendish-Bentinck, Lady, 1873-1938 person
correspondedWith Pankhurst, Emmeline, 1858-1928 person
associatedWith Ponsonby, Mary, 1832-1916. person
associatedWith Praeger, Ferdinand, 1815-1891. person
associatedWith Somerville, E. Œ. (Edith Œnone), 1858-1949. person
associatedWith St. John, Christopher (Christopher Marie) person
associatedWith Tovey, Donald Francis, 1875-1940. person
associatedWith Van Thal, Herbert, 1904-1983. person
associatedWith Warlock, Peter, 1894-1930. person
correspondedWith Women composers person
associatedWith Woolf, Virginia, 1882-1941. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
England
England
England
Great Britain
Serbia, Europe
England
Great Britain
Saar Basin, Europe
England
Dardanelles, Turkey
Great Britain
Yugoslavia, Europe
Subject
Authors, English
Chamber orchestra music
Composers
Composers
Composers
Conductors (Music)
Feminists
Folk songs, French
Music
Suffragists
Women
Women authors, English
Women composers
Women composers
Women composers
Occupation
Composers
Composers
Activity

Person

Birth 1858-04-22

Death 1944-05-08

Britons

Information

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SNAC ID: 42474747