Elfrida Andreé (1841-1929) Sweden
- andreachamizoalber
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Composer, conductor, and organist, Elfrida Andreé was the first woman in Sweden to earn a diploma as an organist from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. She did so as an extramural student, as women were not admitted as candidates for admission to the academy. Elfrida wrote to her father , "We girls are oppressed in every way. Besides becoming seamstresses or teachers, show business is the only occupation open to us. I want to work and pursue a goal, but what is one to do when there is such a small field to work in?"
At the age of 24, she composed this Piano Quintet. It includes a link to download the score.
Her first symphony was poorly received, with Elfrida writing in her diary that she believed the musicians had "played badly on purpose." One critic's review concluded, "Note this golden truth: the originality of this piece consists in the invention, not of abnormal forms, but of horrible forms." With these comments, Elfrida's family suggested that she instead compose simple piano works and songs, but Elfrida decided to study, prepare herself more, and continue writing orchestral music.
I share her Symphony in A minor, without the score.
In 1880, she received second prize for composition in a competition held in Brussels. By this time, Elfrida Andrée was already a well-known figure on the Swedish art scene, and some of her finest compositions date from this period. She wrote three symphonies, chamber music, pieces for piano and organ, choral masses in Swedish, and cantatas. The next work is her Piano Trio in G minor, which includes a link to the score.
Finally, I share the following playlist of Andrée's complete piano works. It will be without sheet music.
And here's the link to IMSLP where you can find more of her music:
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