The World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 was, according to my ancient Encyclopaedia Britannica, ''an artistic and educational triumph of the first order''. Amongst its musical novelties were three concerts devoted to the work of women composers, and, so the leaflet accompanying this record tells us, ''a concluding concert for the Congress of Representative Women drew 15,000 people''. All of that, it has to be said, is rather more impressive than the quality of the representative music heard here; still, the idea of constructing such a programme as this is an enterprising one, and the pieces are well performed.
Best, I think, is the song that comes last: Ici bas, a nostalgic setting by Maude Valerie White of Sully Prudhomme's poem, sung by Susanne Mentzer sounding like a young Frederica von Stade. Longest is the Violin Sonata of Clara Kathleen Rogers, not performed at the Fair but chosen for this record when those of her works that were given proved inaccessible. It is claimed as a premiere recording, and is a stoutly constructed piece with a likeable slow movement. Other instrumental compositions include Chaminade's Chanson Bretonne which has a touch of the Irish about it. The name most frequently included in lists of American writers is that of Amy Beach (or more usually 'Mrs Beach'), whose two-part song Singing Joyfully, originally performed by the Exposition Children's Choir, is here sung as a duet by the well-matching voices of Mentzer and Sunny Joy Langton.
Violinist and pianist, like the two singers, give pleasure, but when the booklet-notes say of the Sonata that it ''is very difficult for both soloists'' the thought occurs that, certainly as far as the piano part is concerned, a reasonably competent amateur would not have too much trouble sight-reading it. Most of the music here is in fact very undemanding both upon the listener and the performer. I wonder whether the Representative Women had heard of the 35-year-old Ethel Smythe, whose far from undemanding Mass in D had its premiere in London that very year.
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