Daisy Elna Sherman (12 October 1888 - September 1964) was a composer, musicologist, and teacher with a special interest in

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Word ...

. Sherman was born in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

to Alice M. “Daisy” Fairchild and Sidney Algernon Sherman. Her mother Alice was a music teacher who also composed at least one song. Sherman earned two degrees at the

Institute of Musical Art The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most e ...

and also studied with Helen Hopekirk and in London. Sherman taught at the Institute of Musical Art and

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is nonsectarian, but has a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1839 by Methodists with its original campu ...

College of Music. In 1936, Sherman was able to interview Hardy’s second wife,

Florence Dugdale Florence Emily Dugdale (12 January 187917 October 1937) was an English teacher and children's writer, who was the second wife of the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. She was credited as the author of Hardy's posthumously published biography, ''The ...

, who told her that Hardy had always wanted to be a musician. Sherman belonged to The

American Composers Alliance The American Composers Alliance (ACA) is an American nonprofit composer service organization dedicated to the publishing and promoting of American contemporary classical music. Founded in 1937 by Aaron Copland, Milton Adolphus, Marion Bauer and oth ...

of New York, the Musical Association in London, and the

Society of Women Musicians The Society of Women Musicians was a British group founded in 1911 for mutual cooperation between women composers and performers, in response to the limited professional opportunities for women musicians at the time. The founders included Katharine ...

. Her works were published by

Associated Music Publishers G. Schirmer, Inc. is an American classical music publishing company based in New York City, founded in 1861. The oldest active music publisher in the United States, Schirmer publishes sheet music for sale and rental, and represents some well-know ...

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, and E. C. Schirmer. Her publications include:

Articles

*''Music in Thomas Hardy’s Life and Work'' (

Musical Quarterly ''The Musical Quarterly'' is the oldest academic journal on music in America. Originally established in 1915 by Oscar Sonneck, the journal was edited by Sonneck until his death in 1928. Sonneck was succeeded by a number of editors, including Car ...

, vol 26 no 4 Oct 1940) *''Ravenscroft’s Psalter, 1621; and Its Place in the Early New England Scene'' ( Bulletin of the American Musicological Society no 11/12/13 Sep 1948) *''Thomas Hardy: Lyricist, Symphonist'' (

Music & Letters ''Music & Letters'' is an academic journal published quarterly by Oxford University Press with a focus on musicology. The journal sponsors the Music & Letters Trust, twice-yearly cash awards of variable amounts to support research in the music fie ...

, vol 21 no 2 Apr 1940)

Chamber music

*''For an Oriental Bazaar'' (three recorders) *''Sonata Lyrica'' (clarinet and piano; originally for viola and piano) *''St. Francis and the Birds'' (three recorders, cello and harpsichord) *''Ten Anglo-American Folksongs and Ballads'' (two recorders) *''Three Dance Movements'' (five recorders; by Antony Holborne and Robert Parsons; edited by Elna Sherman) *''Wessex Tune Book vol 1 & 2'' (descant and piano; compiled by

James Hook James Hook may refer to: * Captain Hook, the villain of J. M. Barrie's play and novel ''Peter Pan'' * James Hook (composer) (1746–1827), English composer and organist * James Hook (priest) (1771–1828), English priest, Dean of Worcester * Jame ...

; arranged by Elna Sherman)

Piano

*''Country Wedding''

Voice

*“Evening Song, opus 36” *“Yuletide in a Younger World”

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sherman, Elna American women composers American women writers 1888 births 1964 deaths People from Massachusetts Boston University faculty 20th-century American musicologists