Today, May 29, 2022, marks the 50th Anniversary of the death of composer Margaret Ruthven Lang (1867-1972). Margaret Ruthven Lang is probably one the most important women in American music but is much less well known today than her contemporaries like Amy Marcy Beach. Delos has been thrilled to have released four recordings of her works for voice and piano, choir, and solo piano. In recognition of today’s anniversary, we have a new playlist featuring 50 of those tracks. See some of her remarkable story in the below videos from the 2011 releases from Donald George and Lucy Mauro:

Historically important as the first American female composer to have her music performed by leading American orchestras, she never published (and later destroyed) those works, and stopped composing altogether in mid-life. But her published works – primarily her body of 130 art songs – reveal the rare skill and striking appeal of her art.

Her songs’ exceptional melodic invention and beauty, coupled with imaginative and sophisticated piano support, have been superbly championed by tenor Donald George and pianist Lucy Mauro – who are on an ardent personal mission to revive interest in her music and restore Lang to her rightful niche in the Pantheon of American musical history.

Margaret Ruthven Lang Recordings