While there are several women composers in our time, it was not so in previous centuries. Here are a few Austrian composers who deserve to be remembered for their works.

The 18th and 19th centuries produced several Austrian women composers who were published and/or performed in their lifetime. Here are a few notable examples.

Josepha Aurenhammer

Josefa Aurenhammer was born in Vienna in 1776 and died there in 1841. She was a pianist and had the privilege of studying with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who praised her technique. She composed over 60 works in various genres.

Leopldine Blahetka

Leopoldine Marie Blahetka (born in Guntramsdorf, Baden, in 1811 and died in Boulogne in 1887), was a pianist who impressed Beethoven with her playing. He suggested that she study with Karl Czerny. She later studied with Sechter, Moscheles and Kalkbrenner. She also became famous as a teacher in Boulogne where she resided until her death. (Women of Notes: 1,000 Women Composers Born Before 1900).

Blahetka composed many works of merit, including a piano concerto; Souvenir d'Angleterre, for piano and orchestra; chamber music; 2 sets of variations for piano and chamber orchestra and an operetta, Die Rauber und die Sanger, which was performed in Vienna in 1830.

Elizabeth Gyring

Elizabeth Gyring was born in Vienna in 1886 and died in New York City in 1970. Her early study was done in Vienna. Many of her works had concert and radio performances in Berlin and Vienna by members of the Berlin and Vienna symphony orchestras.

Gyring emigrated to the United States in 1939 and ultimately became an American citizen. Her compositions include Piano Sonata No.2, which was composed in 1957 and has been recorded on CRI label, 252. Other works were performed in Town Hall, NYC, Carnegie Hall, NYC, and various other halls throughout the United States.

Marianne Martinez

Marianne Martinez was born in Vienna in 1744 and died there in 1812. She was a student of the harpsichord with Metastasio and Josef Haydn, and of singing with Porpora. She was named a member of the Music Academy of Bologna in 1773.

Martinez was a prolific composer, especially in the sacred field, producing 2 oratorios, Santa Elena of Calvario, and Isacco, set to words by Metastasio. This oratorio was performed by the Tonkunstler Gesellschraft in Vienna in 1788 to an enthusiastic audience. She also wrote a Mass, a 4-part Miserere, many psalms, overtures, symphonies and several piano concertos.

Maria Paradis

Maria Theresa von Paradis was born in Vienna in 1759 and died there in 1824. She became blind at the age of three and in spite of her handicap she became an excellent pianist and singer. Empress Maria Theresa found the best teachers for her and she made rapid progress in her studies.

She began to tour 1 year after beginning her formal studies and made a number of appearances before royal audiences in Germany and England. She devoted herself to teaching and founded a music school for girls in Vienna.

Her compositions include an opera, Rinaldo and Bacchus, and an operetta, Der Schulcandidat, cantatas, trios, sonatas, variations, several songs and a cantata written at the time of the death of Louis XVI (1794).

Source: Women of Notes: 1,000 Women Composers Born Before 1900. Richards Rosen Press, Inc., NYC 1978

For further information on women in music see:

Source: Women of Notes: 1,000Women Composers Born Before 1900. Richards Rosen Press, NYC 1978

Italian Women Composers

Polish Mistress of the Harpsichord

American Composer Eugenie Rocherolle