Teresa Carreno
1853 - 1917
A Funeral March? Its bound to be heavy, over orchestrated and obviously by a man. Not this one. Although women composers have a tendency top be overlooked by the classical music establishment, there were plenty of them.
Teresa Carreno grew up in a society not known for pushing women to the fore, Caracas in Venezuela.
To give her full name: María Teresa Gertrudis de Jesús Carreño García and her family emigrated to New York when she was just 9.
She became a world famous pianist performing in Europe and the Americas. Her Funeral March is certainly sombre but written just for the piano it is somehow lighter, softer without losing any of the dignity the occasion requires.
This fine piece could not be more appropriate. Today I travel to Tewkesbury Abbey to attend the funeral of my late English master. A brilliant teacher, he bequeathed his love of the English language and its literature on me. RIP Michael Parslew.
As you rightly say, whilst it’s a solemn piece, it is lighter thanks to being played on a piano. It was lovely but I’m sorry for Kit’s news.