Chords and Queens

Isabelle O’Connell and Rhona Clarke : The Pandemic Collaboration That Inspired an Album

On today's episode, we're joined by pianist Isabelle O'Connell and composer Rhona Clarke to talk about their album Cocteau - and how a pandemic collaboration quietly grew into something much bigger. We chat about their beginnings in music, the inspiration behind the project, and the work of Les Six member Germaine Tailleferre, whose music features on the album.Isabelle O’Connell: Website: https://www.isabelleoconnell.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/izzypianonyc/Rhona Clarke: Website: https://www.rhonaclarke.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhonapclarke/Cocteau: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/cocteau/1869394834Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2vVpDmuxxxwvw3Ujmymr6D?si=_XjbogLSSUa6sp3v7ZokiwFinding a Voice Festival: https://www.findingavoice.ie✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Let’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens0:00 - Introduction 1:21 - Rhona Clarke’s first introduction to music 2:03 - Where Isabelle’s musical journey began 3:49 - What kind of music student was Isabelle? 4:47 - What Kind of music student was Rhona? 6:24 - How the pandemic started the ‘Cocteau’ album journey 8:00 - Translating Jean Cocteau’s art to music 9:41 - Jean Cocteau’s impact on Rhona’s music 10:20 - Selecting the music to appear on ‘Cocteau’ album 12:38 - the ‘Cocteau’ writing Process 17:49 - What was the most challenging piece? 19:20 - Selecting works written by Germaine Tailleferre 20:48 - Was Rhona inspired by the work of Tailleferre? 21:00 - Discovering the life and work of Tailleferre23:00 - Finding a Voice Festival 25:30 - What does it take to be a good collaborator in music? 28:20 - Does Rhona write music with the performer in mind? 31:40 - Anything surprising during the Cocteau process? 34:34 -Do Rhona and Isabelle agree that “art is not a pastime but a priesthood”? 37:38 - Advice to future composers and musicians 38:53 - What do Isabelle and Rhona recommend we listen to?

Written Oot the Reel: Where are the Women in 18th and 19th Century Scottish Traditional Music?

On this week’s episode we try and answer the question - where are the women in the Golden Age of Scottish trad music? So let’s look at the lives of Euphemia Murray, Catherine White, Magdalene Stirling and Anna Gordon. Just some of the names that shaped 18th and 19th century Scottish Music.  Sources - Female Composers in Scotland’s Golden Age - Aaron McGregor  https://fillocksfiddlers.com/2025/10/22/female-composers-in-scotlands-golden-age/ [https://fillocksfiddlers.com/2025/10/22/female-composers-in-scotlands-golden-age/] A Collection of Entirely Original Strathspeys, Reels… By. Ladies Resident in the Remote Part of the Highlands  https://imslp.org/wiki/A_Collection_of_Entirely_Original_Strathspey_Reels%2C_etc._(Various) [https://imslp.org/wiki/A_Collection_of_Entirely_Original_Strathspey_Reels%2C_etc._(Various)] Historical Music Scotland Archives:  https://hms.scot/prints/source/143/ [https://hms.scot/prints/source/143/] https://hms.scot/prints/source/145/ [https://hms.scot/prints/source/145/] London Newspaper Article Found in:  https://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/MISSKA_MISSRU.htm [https://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/MISSKA_MISSRU.htm]  Miss Auchtertyre Score:  https://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/collection.php?pageNum_index=55 The Ballad World of Anna Gordon Book:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ballad-world-of-anna-gordon-mrs-brown-of-falkland-9780198939092?cc=us&lang=en [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ballad-world-of-anna-gordon-mrs-brown-of-falkland-9780198939092?cc=us&lang=en] Magdalene Stirling Tunes:  https://www.highlandmusictrust.org/the-magdelina-stirling-collection [https://www.highlandmusictrust.org/the-magdelina-stirling-collection] ✨New Episodes Every Monday✨ Let’s Get Social 📱 For more Classical Queens, follow us on:  Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr]  Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens [https://substack.com/@chordsqueens] 0:00 - Introduction  0:40 - Let’s talk women in music 1:43 - Setting the Scene  2:36 - Women’s History in 18th Century Scotland  4:24 - Euphemia Murray - check spelling  8:08 - Catherine E White  10:50 - Magdalene Stirling  12:48 - Anna Gordon - The Ballad Collector  17:17 - Conclusion

Jennifer King: The Award Winning Pianist That’s Championing Canadian Women Composers

On today's episode, we sit down with Jennifer King, the award-winning pianist and recording artist. We talk about her early days learning music and the importance of being able to access music education, as well as her phenomenal career as a performer, teacher, and actress - playing the role of Ethel Smyth in The Bessie Carruthers Study Club. With such an impressive career, Jennifer has no desire to slow down and enjoy the fruits of her labour quite yet. In fact, there's one area of music she hasn't explored - and that's composing! Although, if you think her compositions might have a similar tone to her other four albums - well, I won't spoil it for you, but she lets us know in the episode. ;) Jennifer King:  Website: https://www.jenniferkingpiano.com [https://www.jenniferkingpiano.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferkingpiano?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== [https://www.instagram.com/jenniferkingpiano?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Cecilia Concerts Sensory Accessible Concerts  https://www.ceciliaconcerts.ca/sensory-accessible-concerts/?srsltid=AfmBOorQY9pqpJCBRZMU82-7AqeKnftfslcYgr6--CUcMZQ0j4Nz-Ain [https://www.ceciliaconcerts.ca/sensory-accessible-concerts/?srsltid=AfmBOorQY9pqpJCBRZMU82-7AqeKnftfslcYgr6--CUcMZQ0j4Nz-Ain] ✨New Episodes Every Monday✨ Let’s Get Social 📱 For more Classical Queens, follow us on:  Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr]  Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens [https://substack.com/@chordsqueens] 0:00 Introduction  1:53 Where Jennifer’s Musical Journey Began 3:18 Finding the Piano  4:50 Early Days Learning the Piano  7:00 How Has Music Education Impacted Jennifer’s Life?  8:51 The Importance of Music Lessons in a Childs Development  9:50 Being a Proud Canadian  13:46 Becoming a Recording Artist  22:06 The Process of Making an Album  26:20 Souvenance - An Album of Music Written by Women  28:08 Reimagining Joni Mitchell  32:06 Don’t Record Something You Don’t Love  32:30 Trying to Get Women’s Work into Concert Halls  34:37 Balancing Performing with Motherhood  37:55 Collaboration as a Pianist  40:23 What Skills are required to be a good collaborator in music?  42:14 Cecelia Concerts Sensory Accessible Concerts  47:18 The Bessie Carruthers Study Club  49:20 Becoming Ethel Smyth  57:01 Becoming a Composer?  59:00 Advice for Pianists and Musicians  1:01:00 Favourite Piece by a Woman Composer

Cathryn Bell: From Actor to Film Composer

On today’s episode, I’m joined by the wonderful multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Cathryn Bell. We talk about her journey as a composer and how she found her way into writing for the screen, as well as her favourite film scores and her creative process. We also dive into the lack of women in film composition and explore what can be done to better support and champion the next generation of women composers. Cathryn Bell:  Website: https://www.cathrynbell.com [https://www.cathrynbell.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathrynbellofficial?igsh=MXE0Y2tqdnloc3Nwcw== Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@composer_storyteller?_r=1&_t=ZN-949sMoN8sBa [https://www.tiktok.com/@composer_storyteller?_r=1&_t=ZN-949sMoN8sBa] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ebo7AaKAjsW21wTpzYb8h?si=vpwe5NfwRsSYAFddNSguiQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ebo7AaKAjsW21wTpzYb8h?si=vpwe5NfwRsSYAFddNSguiQ] Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/cathryn-bell/1645537539 [https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/cathryn-bell/1645537539] The Lemon Cake Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wb95lvlTyM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wb95lvlTyM] 00:00 - Introduction  00:57 - Start of a Musical Journey  1:49 - Childhood Films that Inspired Her  3:18 - The Music She Listened to Growing Up 4:56 - Learning the Viola  5:36 - First Memories Writing Music  6:34 - A snippet of Cathryns first composition  7:55 - The Inspiration behind the piece  8:56 - Always putting story with music  9:09 - Compositional Journey  9:28 - Lack of Composer Role Models that were Women  10:32 - Training as An Actor  12:02 What being an actor taught her about writing music  13:00 - Where do the compositions start?  14:05 - What does the first few moments of writing a piece look like?  16:00 - How to decide what instrument a piece needs  16:39 - Life as a Film Composer  17:06 - How she got started writing for the screen  21:56 - A snippet from The Lemon Cake Society Score  23:30 - Making the Score for the Lemon Cake Society  26:24 - Collaboration  31:35 - From the Vault Film Scores?  32:12 - What you wish more directors knew about writing film music 34:36 - Where are all the women in film music?  34:59 - Have you been the only women in the room?  37:47 - What can we do to help women in film music?  41:21 - Advice for the next generation of women in music  43:17 - Favourite piece written by a woman  45:14 - Links to Social Media and Where to Find Her Work  ✨New Episodes Every Monday✨ Let’s Get Social 📱 For more Classical Queens, follow us on:  Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr]  Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens [https://substack.com/@chordsqueens]

Shea Lolin and Fiona Sweeney: Recording Chaminade’s Flute Concertino, the Power of Collaboration and Advice for Composers

On today’s episode, I’m joined by conductor, producer, and performer Shea Lolin and flautist Fiona Sweeney to discuss their recent recording of the Flute Concertino by French composer Cécile Chaminade, featured on their new album Frisson. We explore the experience of recording the work, the importance of championing music by women composers, and share advice for emerging composers on the value of collaboration with musicians and conductors in bringing new pieces to life. Shea Lolin:  https://www.shealolin.co.uk [https://www.shealolin.co.uk] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shealolin/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/shealolin/?hl=en] Fiona Sweeney:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionasweeney/ [https://www.instagram.com/fionasweeney/]  Cécile Chaminade Concertino, Op.107 – Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble, Shea Lolin & Fiona Sweeney:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-98hwenshU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-98hwenshU] ✨New Episodes Every Monday✨ Let’s Get Social 📱 For more Classical Queens, follow us on:  Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr]  Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens [https://substack.com/@chordsqueens]