Music Meets Drama

Over the past 11 years I have been fortunate enough to purchase some of Gena Branscombe’s sheet music found on either Ebay or Amazon. Sheet music covers from her era could be works of art. It is easy to see that most of her covers were rather subdued which may be have been her choice or that of the publisher. Enjoy a look at some of her sheet music. With a photo of the St. Lawrence river, this song features poetry by the composer who was ever dedicated to her beloved Canada. Schmidt published this song in 1921. As poet and composer Gena's song "Autumn Wind so Wistful" was published in 1911 and republished in 1914 by Arthur Schmidt. Published by Schmidt in 1917, Gena set the poetry of Katherine Tynan. Gena teamed with her friend,fellow Canadian and poet Arthur Stringer to compose this song. Published in 1945 by Arthur Stringer. This is dedicated to the World War II Canadian soldiers. "Songs of the Unafraid" and ...

In 1899 at the ripe age of 18 while in college, Gena Branscombe’s song “For Love’s Abroad in Springtime Eves” was published by the Hatch Music Company of Philadelphia. Imagine….over one hundred years ago, a woman composer had found a publisher to release her song. I try to comprehend that idea and often wonder how she managed to get published for the first time, then, just two years later in 1901, four of her piano pieces were published by the Canadian firm Whaley, Royce and Company. Two different music publishers in two years. It is difficult to grasp how hard it was for composers, even more so, women composers to be published. Composers submitted their compositions to music publishers who looked at the marketability of the piece, took into consideration the cost of type setting the music, printing, distribution, hopefully it would sell and the composer would earn royalties. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries people purchased sheet music with fancy colorful engaging art wor...