1867-1944

Amy Beach reserves a special place in history as one of the first successful female composers of large-scale music. Her ‘Gaelic’ Symphony of 1896 was the first symphony to be composed and published by an American woman, and as a pianist, she was respected throughout North America and Europe. Despite frequent setbacks due to her sex, Beach was able to become a leading figure in American music and nurtured a new generation of composers and performers.