Clara Angela Macirone

Clara Angela Macirone (20 January 1821 – 1914) was an English pianist and composer who published her music as C. A. Macirone. Born in London, she was the daughter of Italian musicians; her mother was also a pianist (a pupil of Charles Neate) and her father was an amateur tenor.^[1] She began her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in 1839 under Cipriani Potter, W H Holmes, Charles Lucas and others. She later took a position teaching at the Academy.^[2]

Clara Angela Macirone

Her first concert was given at the Hanover Square Rooms on 26 June 1846, at which the baritone Johann Pischek performed her sacred song Benedictus, a composition later praised by Mendelssohn. She was active as a performer until 1864. After that, Macirone turned to teaching and composing. Her Te Deum and Jubilate were sung at Hanover Chapel and claimed to have been the first service by a woman ever used in the Church.^[2]

Macirone was a pioneer in the musical education of women as both a teacher and writer. She held teaching positions at Aske's School for Girls in Hatcham (1872-8) and at the Church of England High School for Girls, Baker Street. She contributed articles to The Girl's Own Paper^[3] and The Argosy. Macirone died in London in 1914.^[4][5]

Works

Selected works include:

• Suite for piano and violin in E minor
• Rondino in G for piano
• By the Waters of Babylon, anthem (sung at Canterbury, Ely and elsewhere)
• Te Deum and Jubilate
• Benedictus^[6]
• Footsteps of Angels, choral
• Come to Me, Oh Ye Children (Text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
• Fare thee well! and if for ever (Text: George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron)
• Hesperus (Text: Edwin Arnold after Sappho)
• The Balaclava Charge (Text: Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
• There is dew for the flow'ret (Text: Thomas Hood)^[7]