Rousseau, and flourished in the
first part of last century. She won her laurels early, being cut off by
an untimely death when only twenty-eight. She had already attained a
professorship of harmony in the Conservatoire, and published many
valuable organ works, besides pieces for piano and other instruments.
Several masses by her remained in manuscript.

Among the song composers of the eighteenth century belongs Mme. de
Travenet, whose romances and chansons, with piano or harp, became very
popular. Pauline Duchambge, of later date, won great success in a
similar manner. Hortense, Queen of Holland (1783-1837), published an
album of her own songs at Paris. Mlle. Molinos-Lafitte is credited with
a number of songs, which form another Parisian collection. In connection
with singing, the excellent teaching work of Mme. Marchesi has been
supplemented by the publication of numerous sets of admirable vocalises
from her pen. In the realm of harp playing, the Comtesse de Genlis
became noted in the eighteenth century, and published many compositions
for the instrument. Marie Pollet, somewhat later in point of time, wrote
a number of harp pieces, and played them in her many concert tours.
Theresa Demar was another celebrated harpist and harp composer.

CHAPTER IX.

AMERICA

If the term America be applied, as is often the case, only to the United
States, then the list of its women composers will still be found to
include practically all who have done work in this line in the Western
hemisphere. By far the larger part of these women are living now, for
our musical growth has taken place in recent years. The record is
already a worthy one, and will become still more extensive in the near
future.

At the head of the list stands Mrs. H. H. A. Beach, the one great name
to be found in our country. She was born in Henniker, N. H., on
September 5, 1867, her maiden name being Amy Marcy Cheney. She is
descended from one of the oldest New England families, and her middle
name indicates her relationship to the Marcy line, which includes the
famous cabinet officer, William L. Marcy.

Mrs. Beach's love of music, which she inherited from her mother's
family, began to show itself almost at once. From the time when she was
only a year old, she began to amaze her family and their friends by the
most astonishing musical feats. She proved herself possessed of absolute
pitch; she memorized dozens of tunes; she listened for hours at a time