LibGuides: Women in Classical Music: Recordings

Jump to: Streaming Audio & Video | Hardcopy Recordings

Streaming Audio & Video

Library Databases

All of our streaming databases include music composed and performed by women artists. Search for particular names or titles, or for keywords that may be part of an album title, e.g. woman, women, female, etc.

Not sure what names/titles to search? See the Repertoire page to discover new music.

Naxos Music Library This link opens in a new window
More than 150,000 albums of primarily classical music. Sign up for a free account to create playlists and access the mobile NML app.
Dance in Video This link opens in a new window
Hundreds of performances, interviews, documentaries, and instructional videos covering ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, experimental, improvisational, and more.
DRAM This link opens in a new window
Over 4,000 albums by primarily American composers and artists, from folk to opera, Native American to jazz, nineteenth-century classical to early rock, music theater, and contemporary music. It includes the complete catalog of New World Records; repertoire from CRI, Albany Records, Innova Recordings; and liner notes and essays from these labels.
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive This link opens in a new window
Full-length videos from the archives of the Jacob's Pillow Dance festival, the oldest summer dance festival in the U.S. It includes historic and recent performances by top dance companies working in all styles; themed playlists; multimedia essays; interviews; archival photographs; and more.

Hardcopy Recordings

Anthologies in the Allen Library (selections)

We have many more recordings from women composers and performers! Use the repertoire guides and websites elsewhere in this guide to identify other performer or composer names and work titles, then search the library catalog for those specific people or works. See catalog search tips below, or ask a librarian for help.

Kaleidoscope: Music by African-American Women
Call Number: MD217 W35 K3 [Allen CDs]
Publication Date: 1995
Works for violin and/or piano.
Music by Women: A Celebration by Rosemary Platt; Sharon Mabry
Call Number: MD1 P55 M87 [Allen CDs]
Publication Date: 2003
17 pieces by 13 women composers, for piano and/or violin.
New Historical Anthology of Music by Women
Call Number: MD2 H57 2004 [Allen CDs]
3-CD set of original and remastered recordings of music by women composers through the centuries.
Women Composers: The Lost Tradition Found
Call Number: MD ML390 J49 W65 1994 [Allen CDs]
Music by 25 women composers, from 1098 to the present.
Accompanying book available at ML390 J49 W65 1994
Women Write Music by Foundation Philharmonic Orchestra; David Snell, conductor
Call Number: MD1000 F685 [Allen CDs]
Publication Date: 1999
Orchestral music by nine 20th century women composers.

Find CDs & LPs in the Library

The best way to find recordings in the catalog is to search for a specific composer, performer, or piece.
Don't know what to search? See the Repertoire page.

Another option: search for anthologies with keywords like women or female.
Use the drop-down menu to limit your search to Sound recordings.

Here is just one example to get started (click to see search results):
Women composers

Suggest a Resource

Know of a resource you think should be added to this guide? Let us know!

Want to suggest we purchase something new? Contact Tracey Rudnick (rudnick@hartford.edu).