It's been very heartening to see people within the brass band movement celebrate yesterday's International Woman's Day by highlighting some the great work that is currently being undertaken by female ensembles, composers, players and conductors alike.
It's also been good to also see people mention some of the pioneers who blazed a trail for female musical emancipation — from conductors Betty Anderson and Barbara Stone to composer Helen Perkins and players such as Maisie Ringham Wiggins and Gracie Cole.
Different era
However, even before them came women of an entirely different era whose names are now almost forgotten but whose impact was just as great — such as Beatrice Pettit, who played in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford in the 1890s and was featured on the cover of the celebrated 'Turner's Cornet Journal' in 1897.
Then there were the American 'wonders' of Mary McNeill, Leora Meaux, Carrie Melvin, Myrtle Morgan, Bertha Noss, Alice Raymond and Maud Shelton, now names few would remember.
Daisy Squelch
However, one woman surely does — and not just because of rather unique surname: The amazing, Daisy Squelch.
In 1905 Daisy played 'The Lost Chord', before the announcement of the results at the National Championships at Crystal Palace, and had earlier challenged any other lady cornetist £500 (over £40,000 today) to play against her. None did.
She was regarded as a British phenomenon, although still something of an 'act' — promoted in the same vein as 'Maud Roche and her Performing Monkeys' — which included believe it or not, a monkey orchestra.
In 1905 Daisy played 'The Lost Chord', before the announcement of the results at the National Championships at Crystal Palace, and had earlier challenged any other lady cornetist £500 (over £40,000 today) to play against her. None did4BR
Injured troops
In 1914 she performed at the Chesterfield Hippodrome, where she provided a 'musical montage' for injured troops home from the Western Front.
And whilst much more detailed research is required to find out what became of this true pioneer of women in brass banding, perhaps that's for another International Woman's Day.
