Contents Ancient Influences The Wives of Composers - Beethoven and Female Inspiration Female Inspiration - Schubert, Spohr and Weber The Affections of Chopin and Berlioz Eminent Women Active in Music: Musical Queens Female Composers - Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann Other European Female Composers Women Composers of America Louis Charles Elson (1848-1920) was an American music critic, author, and lecturer. He studied music at the Leipzig Conservatory, and became music critic for the Boston Advertiser as well as lecturer at the New England Conservatory of Music. He is also the author of Curiosities in Music.