Hedwige Chrétien

Who was Hedwige Chrétien?

Hedwige-Chrétien was a French composer. She was appointed a music professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1889 where she had previously been a student from 1874, studying with Ernest Guiraud. In 1881, she won first prize in harmony, counterpoint and fugue. She also won first prize in piano and in composition in other concours which she entered. She was a prolific composer, yet not much else is known about her life. Her compositions, ca. 150 in all, consist of pieces for piano, orchestral and chamber works, songs, two ballets and two one-act operas.

One of the most extensive collections of her work in the United States is held in the University of Michigan’s Women Composers Collection which is available on microfilm from that and other libraries.