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"The March of the Women"

English

Synopsis

<p class="font_8">A song that served as the official anthem of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and the wider women's suffrage movement. It was a "hymn and a call to battle" sung at rallies and even in prison by activists on hunger strike</p>

Composer

Dame Ethel Smyth (1858–1944)

Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright

Cicely Hamilton (1872–1952)

Year of composition/publication / premiere

1910/1911

Genre

Song

LGBTQAI+ category

Bisexual, Lesbian, Queer

Level of centrality

Characters

Not applicable (the opera does not contain explicitly LGBTQ+ characters; its queer significance lies with the composer)

Voice type

Pronouns

Publisher / Rights holder

Originally published by Breitkopf & Härtel (London) in 1911. The contents of the Library of Congress Women's Suffrage in Sheet Music Collection are in the public domain and are free to use. A modern edition has been published by Treble Clef Music Press (USA, 1995)

Where to buy / access the work

The original sheet music is in the public domain and can be accessed through the Library of Congress website. Modern editions may be purchased through sheet music retailers.

Performance rights

For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.