Women in music during 17th century struggled to gain recognition that would allow them to occupy musical position in courts, publish their compositions, or perform on stage. But some of them managed to ‘break the barriers’. Erin Gallagher, violin, Sarah Graf, cello, and Charlotte McLain, harpsichord will introduce you to two successful women of the era as they perform music by Anna Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704) and Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1664-1729). Interspersed between compositions by these two women will be a cello duo by Jacob Herman Klein (1688-1748), the first Dutch composer to compose for cello. Bill Capps, cello, will join Sarah in this performance. Anna Isabella Leonarda entered Collegio de Saint Orsola, an Ursuline convent in Novara, Italy at the age of 16. She developed into a highly regarded composer in her home city. At the convent she rose to the position of convent music teacher and composer, writing mostly vocal music with few instrumental exceptions. Her Sonata Duodecima, op. 6 is one of these exceptions. This violin sonata is among the earliest instrumental sonatas to be published by a female composer (1693). Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre is among the first great French women composers known in history. Her first appearance at the court of King Lewis XIV Versailles was at age five. She was known in the court as ‘small wonder’ because of her outstanding musical talents. She became a favorite of the King’s then mistress, Madame de Montespan, and was a member of her entourage for three years. As a composer, she wrote both instrumental and vocal compositions. Her 1687 publication of harpsichord pieces exhibits her fine compositional skills for keyboard instruments. The Sonata in d minor for violin illustrates her knowledge of the Italian style as it was becoming the vogue in France. Jacob Herman Klein, also known as Jacob Klein the Younger (1688-1748), was the first Dutch composer to compose for cello. Klein was also dance master, but his real job seems to have been more of a merchant founding a company for rubber trade. Klein’s compositions are technically challenging and innovative as is illustrated in the Sonata for violoncello and Basso continuo op. 4 no. 6. Join us for the Baroque Bash, Friday, May 17, 2019 @ 5:30 PM in the Basalt Library Community Room and gain new insight into the wonderful world of Baroque music.