Yes, it’s a thing!
For those of you who’re returning visitors to my website or who know me from my work as a musician or as a board member at the international „Arbeitskreis Frau & Musik“ (we’re running the archive for women in music in Frankfurt) or who follow me on social media this doesn’t come as a surprise and for me, every Sunday is a great opportunity to play music by women composers. In fact, for more than ten years now I’ve been doing my personal „project 50-50“, making sure that I play at least one non-male composer in church. And I also try to opt for diversity in my recitals whenever possible.
The UK-based Society of Women Organists of which I’m a member is working enthusiastically to „swell the ranks of women organists“ (our new slogan!) and to promote organ music by women composers. Each year around international women’s day, there’s the organ marathon at London Bridge Station, making use of the Henry Jones organ and introducing SWO’s work to the public. I hope that one day I can travel to London and be a part of the marathon, too.
And each year, SWO publishes a list of pieces to play on Woman Composer Sunday, the Sunday following or preceding international women’s day.
This year, both are today, March the 8th 2026. So, we’re all asked to share music by women composers using the hashtag #WomanComposerSunday and although I might be the only person in the fediverse taking part, I’ll gladly spread the word (or rather the music) and use this hashtag, too.
And, with or without hashtag, I would like to introduce a marvellous organ piece by contemporary Italian composer Carlotta Ferrari: Fuga sulla Marcia delle Donne di Ethel Smyth – it’s not too difficult and can be played both on small and on large organs. I’ve made a recording playing a 1911 Bernhard organ, one of „my“ main instruments. In the video, I’m actually wearing my SWO hoodie – so it has everything: a woman organist who’s a member of the Society of Women Organists playing an organ piece by a woman composer based on a theme by another woman composer. (Phew! Don’t forget to breathe!) You can find the sheet music to Carlotta’s piece on IMSLP.
You’re also welcome to have a look at my ever-growing list of women composers who wrote for the organ (or related instruments), to visit the archive of women in music, to become a member of SWO and if you’re a composer of organ music and would like me to write about your music and/or play one of your pieces, I’d be happy to hear from you.
By the way, today I didn’t do 50-50, but rather 100 and played a piece by Kate Loder as the prelude to the service and a piece by Emma Louise Ashford as the postlude.