Ethel Barns

Full biography Ethel Barns

Ethel Barns was a British composer born in 1874 in Walthamstow, London. As a child, she showed a great interest in music and started playing the piano at a young age. Her talents became evident, and she received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where she developed her compositional skills.

Barns composed a wide range of music, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, songs, and operas. Her compositions were characterized by a sensitive and impressionistic style that was appreciated by audiences and critics alike. Barns was also an accomplished pianist and performed her own works in public frequently.

One of her most significant achievements was the composition of the opera, "Le Petit Duc," which debuted at the Prince's Theatre in London in 1911. This opera was a considerable success and was also performed in Paris and New York. Other notable works include "A Song of the New Jerusalem" and a significant orchestral piece, "Tone Poem."

During her career, Ethel Barns was a pioneer for female composers in a male-dominated industry. She was also an advocate for women's suffrage and actively campaigned for equal rights. However, her success was not without its challenges as she struggled to balance her career with her responsibilities as a wife and mother.

Ethel Barns passed away in 1948, leaving behind a legacy of music that contributed significantly to the British musical landscape. Her compositions continue to be celebrated and performed today, and her contribution to advancing women's rights in the arts is widely recognized.