Soft lips on cold metal: female brass soloists of the 19th and early 20th centuries

During the later 1800s and early 1900s there were increasing numbers of women musicians taking part in the musical life of the western world. Whether as instrumental soloists; members of family groups; amateur or professional bands and orchestras; string, brass and mixed ensembles; and vaudeville performers; these female musicians earned their place in history – one which has largely been overlooked in favour of their male counterparts. This paper documents nearly 300 of these solo brass performers, giving an insight into their lives and performances