The original score of Mass in D by pioneering female composer, Dame Ethel Smyth, has recently been discovered in the University of Liverpool’s Special Collections and Archives. The University’s Head of Music, Professor Lisa Colton, identified the manuscript - an important work long believed to be lost.
First performed in 1893, Mass in D is considered one of Smyth’s most well-known compositions and remains one of her most significant achievements. The discovery is especially notable given Smyth’s historical importance as a composer, suffragette, and prominent LGBTQ+ figure in Britain.
Whilst consulting the library’s archives, Professor Colton soon realised she had rediscovered the authentic score, right here in Liverpool. Identifying the distinctive handwriting, markings, and annotations, it was a thrilling moment for Colton:
“This is a really exciting find. It is in Smyth’s unmistakeable handwriting and notational style, and includes copious notes to copyists, conductors and performers."
The manuscript had been presumed lost for over 100 years. Its rediscovery not only sheds new light on one of Smyth’s most important works but also serves as a reminder of the extraordinary talent, imagination, and determination she brought to a musical world largely dominated by men.
This rare find will be of great interest to music scholars and enthusiasts alike and adds a remarkable piece to the collections preserved in the University’s Special Collections and Archives.
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