Alexandra Thomson Studholme (24 May 1867 – 15 October 1907)[1] was a British composer[2] who published her music under the name Alexandra Thomson (also seen as Thompson). She is best remembered today for her work for chorus and orchestra, Battle of the Baltic.

Thomson's parents were Zoe Skene and the Reverend William Thomson,[3] the Archbishop of York.[4] On 23 June 1897 Thomson married John Studholme (1864-1934) and they had four sons: John, Richard, Derek, and Humphrey.[5]

Thomson studied music with Dr. John Naylor.[6] In October 1890, Her composition Battle of the Baltic for chorus and orchestra, text by Thomas Campbell, was performed at the Hovingham Festival in 1890.[7][8] She wrote articles about music[9] and composed songs and madrigals,[10] including Fairy Queene (SATB madrigal)[11] and Shepherd's Elegy: Holiday in Arcady.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ Murray (M.A.), Hugh; Friends, York Minster (2001). Monuments in York Minster: an illustrated inventory. The Friends of York Minster. ISBN 978-0-9539048-2-2.
  2. ^ Hixon, Donald L.; Hennessee, Don A. (1993). Women in Music: An Encyclopedic Biobibliography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-2769-1.
  3. ^ "Alexandra Thomson - Studholme". geni_family_tree. 30 December 1867. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. ^ The Ampleforth Journal. Ampleforth College. 1945.
  5. ^ "Parish of Whitehaven | William Thompson-86th Archbishop of York". www.whitehavenparish.org.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). Encyclopedia of Women Composers. New York: Books & Music U.S.A. p. 697. ISBN 0961748516.
  7. ^ Brown, James Duff; Stratton, Stephen Samuel (1897). British Musical Biography: A Dictionary of Musical Artists, Authors, and Composers Born in Britain and Its Colonies. S.S. Stratton.
  8. ^ Fuller-Maitland, John Alexander; Grove, George (1922). Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Presser.
  9. ^ Barger, Judith (13 September 2016). Music in The Girl's Own Paper: An Annotated Catalogue, 1880-1910. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-315-53491-6.
  10. ^ Stern, Susan (1978). Women Composers: A Handbook. New Jersey & London: Scarecrow Press Inc. ISBN 0810811383.
  11. ^ Musical News. 1896.
  12. ^ Laurence, Anya (1978). Women of Notes: 1,000 Women Composers Born Before 1900. New York: Richards Rosen Press Inc. p. 51.