Composers who are female are not rare. They are just too rarely performed, even today. For every one of the 22 composers below, we’ve had to leave out at least five others who deserve to be here ...

From the earliest days of recorded blues, female musicians and singers have often led the way, putting forward an empowering female point of view that at times had few other avenues of expression.

November 25, 2024 • Books We Love returns with 350+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted critics. Find 12 years of recommendations all in one place — that's nearly 4,000 great reads ...