Eighteenth Century Women Violinists

Sarah Ottey, La Diamentina, Catherine Plunkett, Anne Nichol

Sep 12, 2008

The eighteenth century found several fine female violinists performing and teaching in various countries of the world.

Women who played the violin, or any other musical instrument in public, were rare birds. But even as early as the eighteenth century there were several who made a mark with their playing. Prejudice against women performing or even speaking in public was high, and it took a woman of determination to buck the status quo.Here are a few who dared.

Sarah Ottey

Born between 1695 and 1700 (there is no positive date available), Sarah was one of the first female violinists to appear in public recitals. Around the years 1720 to 1725 she appeared regularly at concerts where she played the viola da gamba and the harpsichord as well as the violin.She is believed to have been British, and little was heard of her after 1730.

Catherine Plunkett

An Irish woman, born in Dublin around the year 1725, her teacher was Matthew Dubourg. She performed successfully in Dublin and London around the year 1744 (she would have been nineteen), but nothing is known of her after that date.

Anne Nichol

Born about 1728, she played for the Duke of Cumberland in 1847 at Huntley, and little was heard of her again. Critics, however, praised her 'flexible left hand and her exceptionally skillful bowing.'

La Diamentina

Italy was the birthplace of La Diamentina, who was born around 1715. She played at a reception in Rome in 1740 and was lauded in print by the poet Gray who wrote: "Figure to yourself a Roman villa; all its little apartments thown open and lighted up to the best advantage. At the upper end of the gallery. a fine concert, in which La Diamentina, a famous virtuoso, played on the violin divinely, and sung angelically...and I sat in a corner regaling myself with iced fruits, and other pleasant rinfrescatives."

Tarquinia Molza

She was a musician attached to the Este Court at Ferrara, where she performed as a violinist and singer. She also composed for the lute, viol and harp, and led a women's orchestra under the auspices of the Duchess Margarita. She ultimately lost her position because she engaged in a love affair of which the Duchess disapproved.

There were two other women who made their mark in the violinistic world and they are featured in an article entitled "Maddalena Lombardi Sirmen and Regina Strinasacchi," who were Italian and had fine careers as performers. Maddalina Sirmen was also a composer, and at one point in her performing career was considered a rival to Nardini, the foremost pupil of the great Tartini.

Source

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

The copyright of the article Eighteenth Century Women Violinists in Classical Music is owned by Anya Laurence. Permission to republish Eighteenth Century Women Violinists in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.