Jane Van Etten

Jane Van Etten (1869 – April 17, 1950), also known by her married name, Jane Van Etten Andrews, was an American composer and singer. She was one of the first female composers in the United States to have an opera produced by a regular opera company.

Biography Van Etten was a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Isaac Van Etten, a local lawyer and politician, and Jane Oakes Van Etten. She was descended from the Van Etten family of New York. She studied music and opera singing in New York City, Paris, and London. Among her teachers was Mathilde Marchesi. Her stage debut came as Siébel in Faust at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1895.

She returned to the United States to concertize. By 1901 her reputation was good enough that Benton Harbor's orchestra was advertising itself using Van Etten's name, despite no formal connection or performances. In 1901 she married architect Alfred Burritt Andrews and settled in Evanston, Illinois. After her wedding she gave up singing to concentrate on composition, Her teachers of composition included Alexander von Fielitz and Bernhard Ziehn. The piece received the Bispham Memorial Medal Award. The opera won great critical acclaim, but appears not to have been performed again after its premiere.

Two of her songs have been recorded.

Selected compositions

Songs

Rose, words by Austin Dobson A Vow, words by R. de Peyster Tytus

Choral

Behold, the Master Passeth By, offertory hymn, words by W. W. How Nymph's Reply to the Passionate Shepherd, words by Walter Raleigh Lord be Gracious Unto Us

Instrumental

Moods, for violin & piano