Prof Kate Loder
@kghist.bsky.social
History: especially gender, women, children, music, African diasporas, queer histories, disabilities.
British women composers
#womencomposers
Long-term housebound with v. severe long covid
#longcovid
British women composers
#womencomposers
Long-term housebound with v. severe long covid
#longcovid
Pinned
Prof Kate Loder
@kghist.bsky.social
· Jan 30
Music by Black Composers - Home Page
Music by Black Composers aims to increase diversity in the world of classical music, and inspire Black students to pursue instrumental training.
musicbyblackcomposers.org
1/ I’ve been compiling e-resources for exploring black & ethnically diverse composers.
Here’s a thread of ones I’ve found useful (from my inexpert perspective).
#Diversity
#Equality
#Inclusion
This is the first one:
musicbyblackcomposers.org
It specifies the gender of each composer.
Here’s a thread of ones I’ve found useful (from my inexpert perspective).
#Diversity
#Equality
#Inclusion
This is the first one:
musicbyblackcomposers.org
It specifies the gender of each composer.
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
BBC censoring the Reith lecture. Terrible development
The Trump effect.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
BBC censoring the Reith lecture. Terrible development
If you’re in the Harlow area at lunchtime today, this will be wonderful
Performing a viola & piano programme of all British 🇬🇧 women composers: Minna Keal, Freda Swain & Rebecca Clarke (of course). With violist Jenny Lewisohn in Harlow, Essex. Tomorrow Friday 21st Nov, 1pm
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 AM
If you’re in the Harlow area at lunchtime today, this will be wonderful
Swedish musician Elfrida Andree (1841-1929) is #Radio3 Composer of the Week 🎉 Andree has a lot of fans on here. A brilliant composer (I especially love her piano trios) her output included opera, symphonies and much more. Also a pioneering female musician and feminist activist.
#Womencomposers
#Womencomposers
I confess I knew nothing of Swedish composer Elfrida Andrée’s (1841-1929) music until producer Luke Whitlock suggested her. But then I went down an #Andrée rabbit hole - and what riches! Join Donald Macleod for Composer of the Week 4pm Mon-Fri @BBCRadio3 #classicalmusic www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
November 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Swedish musician Elfrida Andree (1841-1929) is #Radio3 Composer of the Week 🎉 Andree has a lot of fans on here. A brilliant composer (I especially love her piano trios) her output included opera, symphonies and much more. Also a pioneering female musician and feminist activist.
#Womencomposers
#Womencomposers
Sarah Kirkland Snider’s new opera re the medieval composer & abbess, Hildegard, focuses on her subject’s experience of chronic illness.
I’m intrigued by Snider’s evocation of ‘Hildegard’s revolutionary reframe of illness as a generative spiritual force’
#Chronicillness
#CFS/ME
#womencomposers
I’m intrigued by Snider’s evocation of ‘Hildegard’s revolutionary reframe of illness as a generative spiritual force’
#Chronicillness
#CFS/ME
#womencomposers
“I thought that was such a beautiful way to think about health, and one of Hildegard’s more philosophical teachings is that creativity is a way to connect with divinity”
We spoke with Sarah Kirkland Snider about her new opera, HILDEGARD. Have you read the interview? Check it out at:
We spoke with Sarah Kirkland Snider about her new opera, HILDEGARD. Have you read the interview? Check it out at:
Sarah Kirkland Snider Reframes Chronic Illness as a Creative Force in New Opera "HILDEGARD"
Lana Norris sits down with Sarah Kirkland Snider, who shares the inspiration for her new opera, "HILDEGARD," premiering at LA Opera Nov. 5.
buff.ly
November 8, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Sarah Kirkland Snider’s new opera re the medieval composer & abbess, Hildegard, focuses on her subject’s experience of chronic illness.
I’m intrigued by Snider’s evocation of ‘Hildegard’s revolutionary reframe of illness as a generative spiritual force’
#Chronicillness
#CFS/ME
#womencomposers
I’m intrigued by Snider’s evocation of ‘Hildegard’s revolutionary reframe of illness as a generative spiritual force’
#Chronicillness
#CFS/ME
#womencomposers
The first complete recording of the compelling songs of British composer, Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) [1979!!]
Given a great write up here:
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Given a great write up here:
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Rebecca Clarke: The Complete Songs album review – rich, radiant performances bring a forgotten voice to life
A superb survey of Clarke’s lyrical, long-overlooked songs reveals a composer of depth and drama
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The first complete recording of the compelling songs of British composer, Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) [1979!!]
Given a great write up here:
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Given a great write up here:
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Happy Birthday to the wonderful French composer Germaine Tailleferre.
I especially love her piano and chamber works
I especially love her piano and chamber works
Germaine Tailleferre #dotd !
Here is a small rehearsal extract of her beautiful Ballade for 🎹 & orchestra (1920)
I performed it with National Orchestra of Spain & conductor Julia Cruz ❤️
Here is a small rehearsal extract of her beautiful Ballade for 🎹 & orchestra (1920)
I performed it with National Orchestra of Spain & conductor Julia Cruz ❤️
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Happy Birthday to the wonderful French composer Germaine Tailleferre.
I especially love her piano and chamber works
I especially love her piano and chamber works
Brilliant, as usual, from @rhaplord.bsky.social
“The rich archival collections of Ajami literature refute the pervasive myth of Africa’s supposed illiteracy that is perpetuated by the overemphasis on African oral traditions in academia and the privileging of external sources over local chronicles.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/theajami-s...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/theajami-s...
TheʿAjamī script of Africa and the Sorabé manuscripts of Madagascar.
The most widely used writing system in pre-colonial Africa was the ʿAjamī script.
www.africanhistoryextra.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Brilliant, as usual, from @rhaplord.bsky.social
Fascinated to learn that St Augustine, born in Algiers, was a Berber, an Indigenous North African ethnic group.
November 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Fascinated to learn that St Augustine, born in Algiers, was a Berber, an Indigenous North African ethnic group.
I’d forgotten that Sarah Remond became a British citizen. In her application to the British government, she argued this was necessary due to racial prejudice in the USA and the ‘social disabilities’ people of African descent suffered there.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
November 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I’d forgotten that Sarah Remond became a British citizen. In her application to the British government, she argued this was necessary due to racial prejudice in the USA and the ‘social disabilities’ people of African descent suffered there.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...
Beautiful photograph of anti-slavery activist Sarah Remond.
Remond also spent 3 years in Britain, arriving in 1859. She studied at Bedford College, but continued to give public lectures across the country.
Remond also spent 3 years in Britain, arriving in 1859. She studied at Bedford College, but continued to give public lectures across the country.
Sarah Remond (b. 1826), granddaughter of a Black Revolutionary War veteran, ended segregation in a Boston theater with a lawsuit in 1853. She was an internationally prominent anti-slavery lecturer, physician, & activist for abolition & women's suffrage.
November 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Beautiful photograph of anti-slavery activist Sarah Remond.
Remond also spent 3 years in Britain, arriving in 1859. She studied at Bedford College, but continued to give public lectures across the country.
Remond also spent 3 years in Britain, arriving in 1859. She studied at Bedford College, but continued to give public lectures across the country.
Great thread from @britsymphcup.bsky.social on the evocative music of British composer Freda Swain
Born #OTD in 1902, Englsh composer, Freda Swain. Her Piano Sonata No 1 'The Skerries' was composed between 1936 & 1937, & revised in 1945. spotify.link/vEDNevkvUXb #britsymphyear
Piano Sonata No. 1 "The Skerries": I. Vigoroso
spotify.link
November 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Great thread from @britsymphcup.bsky.social on the evocative music of British composer Freda Swain
Reposted by Prof Kate Loder
V severe long covid is so hard to convey.
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
October 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
V severe long covid is so hard to convey.
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
V severe long covid is so hard to convey.
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
October 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
V severe long covid is so hard to convey.
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
Beloved teenage nephew from Oz is staying with us for a week. I haven’t seen him for 6 yrs. As my brain can’t cope with the stimulation of seeing visitors my aim is to literally wave to him once.
Not posting this for sympathy…
1/2
My lovely friend @aoyarzabal.bsky.social was the subject of a frightening verbal assault by a xenophobe in London today. He writes, ‘If you ever witness something like this — please don’t look away. Check in with the person being targeted. A small act of kindness can make a huge difference.’
This afternoon, walking home in Wimbledon and talking to a friend on the phone in Spanish, a white British man in his 50s/60s suddenly came up close to me and started screaming — telling me to “f*ck off to your own country, now, NOW!!!” so close to my face.
October 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
My lovely friend @aoyarzabal.bsky.social was the subject of a frightening verbal assault by a xenophobe in London today. He writes, ‘If you ever witness something like this — please don’t look away. Check in with the person being targeted. A small act of kindness can make a huge difference.’
In MASSIVE news, we’ve got a new scrabble dictionary.
The day I’ve long been waiting for:
The day I’ve long been waiting for:
October 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
In MASSIVE news, we’ve got a new scrabble dictionary.
The day I’ve long been waiting for:
The day I’ve long been waiting for:
Fancy listening to something different? Four gorgeous musical choices of works by women composers here
It's excruciatingly difficult to choose only a few of my favourite composers/works, but here are four.
None of these pieces were recorded - or in some cases even heard - until this decade (the first one in the list by Marie Jäell dropped five days ago).
3/4
None of these pieces were recorded - or in some cases even heard - until this decade (the first one in the list by Marie Jäell dropped five days ago).
3/4
October 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Fancy listening to something different? Four gorgeous musical choices of works by women composers here
Female leaders on the East African coast, pre colonialism
The historical evidence also reveals the contradictions between social-religious ideals/laws and cultural practices, which ultimately influenced the dynamics of gender relations in pre-colonial African societies in ways similar to other parts of the world.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/matriarchs...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/matriarchs...
Matriarchs of the East African coast: Power, Property and the changing status of Women in the Swahili world (1300-1900 CE)
Historical traditions of several pre-colonial African societies are awash with stories of titled women who played prominent roles in the continent’s political history, such as the Candaces of ancient ...
www.africanhistoryextra.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Female leaders on the East African coast, pre colonialism
Martin Spychal explores how Ronald Gower’s privileged position ‘allowed him to play an influential role in shaping, and to an extent asserting, queer identities during the late nineteenth century.’
Having reached Q in our #1832AtoZ, we are looking at Queer history, revisiting Martin Spychal’s series of articles on Lord Ronald Gower, elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. historyofparliament.com/2025/08/11/l...
Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act - The History of Parliament
Dr Martin Spychal introduces his series of articles on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), who was elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. This is the first of five
historyofparliament.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Martin Spychal explores how Ronald Gower’s privileged position ‘allowed him to play an influential role in shaping, and to an extent asserting, queer identities during the late nineteenth century.’
This looks brilliant! Love the idea of using the format of a scrapbook to present queer history: ‘Collecting has been a way for the marginalised to explore and assert identity and community’
Very excited to see our new book: A Queer Scrapbook: Britain and Ireland Since 1945 (with FAB co-editors Matt Cook, Rebecca Jennings, and E-J Scott) now available for pre-order.
www.waterstones.com/book/a-queer...
www.waterstones.com/book/a-queer...
A Queer Scrapbook by Justin Bengry, Matt Cook | Waterstones
Buy A Queer Scrapbook by Justin Bengry, Matt Cook from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
This looks brilliant! Love the idea of using the format of a scrapbook to present queer history: ‘Collecting has been a way for the marginalised to explore and assert identity and community’
Oxford people - this looks great - public lecture on ‘The Maritime Closet’ by Santanu Das. 21 October, 7pm.
It’s free but you need to register:
oclw.web.ox.ac.uk/event/public...
It’s free but you need to register:
oclw.web.ox.ac.uk/event/public...
Public Lecture: Santanu Das, ‘The Maritime Closet: Queer Lives Before the Mast’
oclw.web.ox.ac.uk
October 15, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Oxford people - this looks great - public lecture on ‘The Maritime Closet’ by Santanu Das. 21 October, 7pm.
It’s free but you need to register:
oclw.web.ox.ac.uk/event/public...
It’s free but you need to register:
oclw.web.ox.ac.uk/event/public...
Political institutions in pre-colonial Africa - brilliant blog as always from @rhaplord.bsky.social
The ‘Aban’ stone palace of Kumasi, ca. 1874.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/parliament...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/parliament...
October 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Political institutions in pre-colonial Africa - brilliant blog as always from @rhaplord.bsky.social
Been v. poorly lately, but today managed to see my beautiful, gentle giant of a son.
Only 4 mins but we mostly laughed and it was SO BRILLIANT.
I even managed quite a lot of eye contact which is hard when I’m not good (any other long haulers find this?)
✊ #longcovid #CFS #MEcfs #ME
Only 4 mins but we mostly laughed and it was SO BRILLIANT.
I even managed quite a lot of eye contact which is hard when I’m not good (any other long haulers find this?)
✊ #longcovid #CFS #MEcfs #ME
October 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Been v. poorly lately, but today managed to see my beautiful, gentle giant of a son.
Only 4 mins but we mostly laughed and it was SO BRILLIANT.
I even managed quite a lot of eye contact which is hard when I’m not good (any other long haulers find this?)
✊ #longcovid #CFS #MEcfs #ME
Only 4 mins but we mostly laughed and it was SO BRILLIANT.
I even managed quite a lot of eye contact which is hard when I’m not good (any other long haulers find this?)
✊ #longcovid #CFS #MEcfs #ME
This is such a lovely meditation on the importance of human teachers v. AI
Not up to reading v. much atm, but so pleased I managed these paragraphs — totally worth it
Not up to reading v. much atm, but so pleased I managed these paragraphs — totally worth it
wowwww this is incredibly beautiful. tagging some friends who will love this: @ladyofsardines.bsky.social @heymrsbond.com @marcusluther.bsky.social
therumpus.net/2025/10/02/h...
therumpus.net/2025/10/02/h...
Human Error Is the Point: On Teaching College During the Rise of AI - The Rumpus
My syllabus is a mess of half-remembered intentions. I re-use icebreakers that I know don’t work. I forget to grade the first assignment until Week Four. I write emails that begin with “So sorry for t...
therumpus.net
October 9, 2025 at 7:54 PM
This is such a lovely meditation on the importance of human teachers v. AI
Not up to reading v. much atm, but so pleased I managed these paragraphs — totally worth it
Not up to reading v. much atm, but so pleased I managed these paragraphs — totally worth it
Great news! A grant to assist the performance of women composers
Cool new fund from @royalphilsoc.bsky.social:
'We will annually offer a number of grants to encourage UK-based performers, ensembles, venues and festivals to put exceptional yet overlooked music by historic women composers at the heart of their programming'
'We will annually offer a number of grants to encourage UK-based performers, ensembles, venues and festivals to put exceptional yet overlooked music by historic women composers at the heart of their programming'
Introducing the new RPS Ambache Fund
royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk
October 9, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Great news! A grant to assist the performance of women composers