Today, women composers of the medieval and Renaissance periods are becoming better known. Many were women leading religious lives who had the time and education to devote to composition. Here are some picks of music by women composers or with female subjects and performers, selected for diversity and quality. Some are available online; others you'll need to search a bit for in specialty stores. Enjoy!
1. Women in Chant: Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of Regina Laudes
Not just another chant album, this one focuses on Mary.
2. Canticles of Ecstasy
From the early music group, Sequentia, a selection of the 12th century visionary music of the nun and religious community leader, Hildegard of Bingen.3. Anonymous 4: Lammas Ladymass
Chant and polyphony from the 13th and 14th century, all dedicated to the Virgin Mary and sung by an all-female vocal group.4. Savae: Guadalupe: Virgen de los Indios
In the 1500s, descendents of the Aztec Indians wrote this music in honor of the vision of the Lady of Guadalupe who first appeared on the hill that had been sacred to the Aztec mother goddess Tonantzin.5. Spain to Spain
A female trio and a female-directed male choir perform songs from Spanish history when Jews, Muslims (Moors) and Christians lived in a diverse culture. Most of the songs are centered on the worship of Mary, Mother of God.6. A Feather on the Breath of God
Originally released in 1982, this is the grandmother of women's classical chant music albums. Still inspiring.7. Medieval Baebes: The Rose
Medieval music with an attitude -- lively, lusty, and sung by an all-women group, who also play some interesting instruments. Includes many anonymous compositions, plus poetry by Dante and Chaucer.8. Anonymous 4: 11,000 Virgins
A 1997 album from Anonymous 4, an all-woman quartet. This includes chants by Hildegard of Bingen which were inspired by the legend of St. Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins.9. Sequentia: O Jerusalem
Chants by Hildegard of Bingen, these were originally written for the dedication of the Rupertsberg church, founded to serve the order which Hildegard headed.