Petros Singers to Perform 'Her Songbook Making'

A collection of compositions written by women across the centuries

The Petros Singers

June 16, 2024

Local amateur chamber choir, The Petros Singers, are planning a concert featuring exclusively the work of female composers.

Her Songbook Making, a collection of compositions written by women across the centuries, will be performed on Saturday 6 July St Michael and All Angels Church in Chiswick

The genesis of this idea came when a question was put to Richard Bannan asking why, in his six years as musical director, he had never included any works by female composers. Richard felt this was a very good question, and since then has put at least one piece by a woman composer in every concert. He is now attempting to make full amends with Her Songbook Making.

The programme will include madrigals by Vittoria Aleotti who, in the 16th century, knew that her only chance of a musical career was to become a nun. Thus, the convent at St Vito in Ferrara, Italy performed music that was said to be so exquisite it made popes cry, kings travel hundreds of miles to hear, and was inspirational to contemporary composers such as Monteverdi and Gesualdo.

The choir will also be performing work by Clara Schumann who travelled Europe as a pianist under the tutelage of an abusive father. At fourteen her first piano concerto composition was premiered with Felix Mendelssohn as her conductor.

Connecting these gifted musicians, Petros Singers will additionally be singing Gartenlieder by Felix Mendelssohn’s older sister, Fanny Mendelssohn. Her brother said of Fanny’s work that she was “too much all that a woman ought to be for this”.

Adding to the programme will be works by Amy Beach, America’s first published female composer. Amy’s husband disapproved of wives performing thus she continued to compose until his death. At which point she toured Europe and dedicated herself to encouraging women to perform and compose music.

Perhaps some of that encouragement would have fed into the works of Rebecca Clarke (pupil of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Ralph Vaughan William, a woman sadly brought up by another abusive father who made several – unsuccessful – attempts to ruin her musical career) who is seen by many as Britain’s greatest female composer of the inter-war period. Looking closer to today, the choir will also be performing works by Master of the King’s Music Judith Weir, and local resident Kerensa Briggs.

To compete the evening’s programme Libby Burgess will perform solo piano music by the contemporary British composer Cheryl Frances- Hoad, and Lili Boulanger who died in 1918 at the age of 24.

Pimm’s will be on offer during the interval and can be enjoyed in the garden.

Petros Singers expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of Horton and Garton, whose sponsorship of Petros Singers funds a place in the choir for one of our bursary singers, along with a free singing lesson each term with our singing teacher Toby Ward (Ensemble Pro Victoria).

In addition to its programme of concerts, Petros Singers put on annual singing workshops that are open to all, led by the UK’s leading singing teachers or choral conductors. The next workshop on Saturday 12 October will explore one of the greatest of all sacred works, Monteverdi’s Vespers, led by Paul McCreesh, Founder and Artistic Director of the Gabrieli Consort.

Tickets for Her Songbook Making cost £20 or £17 for concessions, and £5 under 30s and are available online and on the door.

Petros Singers rehearse every Tuesday evening during term time from 8.00 to 9.45 pm in St Peter’s Church, Black Lion Lane, W6 9BE, on the borders of Hammersmith and Chiswick (Stamford Brook or Ravenscourt Park tubes).