Edith Chamberlayne

Edith Amelia Chamberlayne (October 1869 – September 1918) was an English composer active during the 19th century. She appeared in Arthur Elson's discussion of English composers in his Women's Work in Music, as well as a 1909 article in The Etude.

Scholars have speculated that she is the anonymous "E.A.C." who wrote a letter to The Musical World in 1890 advocating for women composers: It is impossible to find a single woman’s name worthy to take rank with Beethoven, Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Brahms, Wagner, Schubert; we cannot even find one to place beside Balfe or Sir Arthur Sullivan ... If we seek for what may be called the feminine element in music, we have to look for it among the works of men, for the simple reason that women have produced nothing that can be given serious consideration.

Her music, specifically three short pieces for violin and piano, was described by contemporaries as "notable for tenderness and simplicity".

Selected works

Orchestra

Symphony No. 1 Symphony No. 2 Overtures

Chamber

Scherzo for harp, flute, and strings Two Sonatas for Pianoforte, Op. 16 Organ pieces Piano Suite

Opera

Unknown opera

Songs

"Be Strong, O Heart!" Text by Adelaide Procter