Cécile Chaminade

Probably best known for her run-tastic Concertino for flute - typical French composer: lures you into a false sense of security with a pretty, achievable melody then BAM SEMIQUAVER SEPTUPLETS! - Cécile represents the vast majority of under-appreciated lady composers.

Even though almost all of her nearly 400 compositions were published, her profile actually took a dive throughout the 20th century, as everyone went nuts for modernism and dismissed late-Romantic French music (but it's so pretty!). According to The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (that's right, I own this book), Cécile's fall from the popular table is also due to the socio-aesthetic conditions affecting women and their music.

AND THEY'D KNOW.


I also particularly like her range: she can do haughty AND ennui-filled.