Chords and Queens

Avril Coleridge-Taylor carved her own path in the world of classical music. From her groundbreaking role as one of Britain’s few prominent female conductors to her rich, overlooked compositions, Avril’s story is one of talent, resilience, and quiet rebellion. This podcast uncovers her music, her mental health struggles and the legacy she fought to leave behind. 

Sussex Landscape by Chineke! Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbT5NCaVgm0

PDF Catalogue of work by Avril Coleridge Taylor: https://leahbroad.substack.com/p/cataloguing-avril-coleridge-taylor 

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

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Dive into the extraordinary life of Nadia Boulanger. Composer, conductor, and legendary teacher to some of the 20th century’s greatest musicians. From falling in love with the sound of fire bells to her deep bond with her sister Lili, this episode explores how Nadia shaped the sound of modern music while redefining what it meant to lead, teach, and inspire.

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ 

Step into the remarkable life of Lili Boulanger, the French composer who shattered expectations and redefined classical music in the early 20th century. From winning the coveted Prix de Rome at just 19 to composing emotionally powerful works that still resonate today, Lili’s journey is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. And yes - long before Lizzie McGuire had her Roman moment, Lili was already living la dolce vita in the Eternal City… but with less purple flared trousers (probably). 

Prelude in D flat Major: https://ks15.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/6/65/IMSLP871321-PMLP103926-boulnger_prelue.mp3

Cortège: https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/2/23/IMSLP871319-PMLP32360-boulnger_cortege.mp3

Psalm 130: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flLZmONu6ls

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

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Vítězslava Kaprálová was a prodigy, a pioneer, and a woman who dared to compose. Born in 1915 in Brno, she rose quickly through the musical ranks of Europe, becoming one of the first female conductors to lead the Czech Philharmonic. Her life was brilliant but heartbreakingly brief as she died at just 25, leaving behind a body of work that feels both defiant and intimate.

In this episode, we unravel Kaprálová’s story - her art, ambition, and the lingering sense of “what could have been.” Along the way, we’ll explore the socio-political minefield she navigated as a woman in music between two world wars, and the deep emotional currents running through her compositions.

This episode features the hauntingly beautiful Smutný večer (Sad Evening), performed by The Art Song Project, whose sensitive interpretation helps breathe life into one of Kaprálová’s most poignant pieces preformed by soprano Hélène Lindqvist and pianist Philipp Vogler. You can find their full recording and translation at:

https://theartsongproject.com/vitezslava-kapralova-studeny-vecer-cold-evening/

Also take a look at more of their works on the website: https://theartsongproject.com

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr 

In this episode, we journey into the extraordinary, and often misunderstood life of Barbara Strozzi, one of the Baroque era’s boldest musical voices. Born in 1619 to a world that didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for ambitious women, Barbara carved out a career as a composer, performer, and intellectual at a time when women were expected to stay silent.

But behind the arias and accolades was a woman navigating a precarious social position - unmarried, a mother, and often the target of scandalous gossip. We’ll explore the myths, the music, and the real woman behind the manuscripts: a composer whose work explored love, desire, and the inner lives of women with a voice that still resonates today.

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

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Step into the world of Wanda Landowska, the revolutionary harpsichordist who brought early music back to life in the 20th century. In this episode, we explore her groundbreaking performances, her role as an educator, and her fierce dedication to reviving the baroque in a time obsessed with the new. From salons in Paris to wartime exile and lasting musical legacy, Landowska’s story is one of resilience, brilliance, and bold reinvention.

Perhaps we draw some unexpected parallels between Landowska and modern pop icon Lana Del Rey—two artists, a century apart, united by their nostalgic aesthetics, emotional intensity, and ability to reframe the past for a new audience.

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In 1850, Louise Farrenc did something revolutionary: she demanded equal pay. As the only woman professor at the prestigious Paris Conservatory, this French composer and pianist fought for—and won—the same salary as her male colleagues, becoming one of history's first documented cases of successful equal pay advocacy.

But Farrenc was far more than a trailblazing educator. Over her 40-year career, she composed 49 major works including three symphonies, two piano quintets, and a nonet that challenged the male-dominated world of 19th-century classical music. From her early virtuosic piano variations based on popular operas to her mature chamber works that rivaled those of her contemporaries, Farrenc created a musical legacy that was systematically overlooked for over a century.

Join us as we explore the life and music of a woman who refused to be silenced—from her salon performances in 1820s Paris to her groundbreaking orchestral works that are finally receiving the recognition they deserve. We'll hear excerpts from her most powerful compositions and uncover how one composer's fight for fairness helped pave the way for future generations of women in music.

Music Featured:

La Grand Mère

Nonet, Op.38

Available: https://imslp.org/wiki/Nonet%2C_Op.38_(Farrenc%2C_Louise)

Performance by the Horizon Ensemble in June 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU4jJ0Gj9b4&t=3979s

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In this episode we explore the remarkable life of Florence Price, the first Black woman to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra. From her early days in Little Rock to her groundbreaking works in Chicago, this episode paints a portrait of a pioneering artist who left an undeniable mark on both American music and the fight for equality.

Featuring Music from The Art Song Project: https://theartsongproject.com/florence-b-price/

Soprano - Hélène Lindqvist

Piano - Philipp Vogler

 A trailblazer in classical music, Amy Beach was not only the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music but also a formidable pianist and a self-taught musical genius. So I’m excited that together we'll explore her early life, her musical journey including looking at her Gaelic Symphony, her groundbreaking compositions, and the lasting impact she left on the world of classical music.

Usually on the podcast we spotlight one composer and focus on their life, their life drama, sometimes their love lives. Today, we’re diving into four incredible pieces composed by women, each representing a different era and style of classical music. We’ve got Das Jahr by Fanny Mendelssohn, Gaelic Symphony by Amy Beach, Symphony No. 1 in E Minor by Florence Price and Partita for 8 Voices by Caroline Shaw.