IWD 10th March 2026
International Women’s Day (IWD)
Today’s offering is from the composer Amanda Ira Aldridge who was born on this day in 1866 in Upper Norwood, London. The song below is a taster of the wide range of music by women composers involved in our Minerva Scientifica projects, we’ve loved working with you all, researching, commissioning, rehearsing, recording and performing your work. You will find them here.
click on the blue button to listen
Amanda Ira Aldridge Photograph held by Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, USA
“Azalea” (Dark Eyed Soldier), for voice and piano is performed by Frances M Lynch. The original song “Azalea” was published in the early 1900’s under the pseudonym Montague Ring. Amanda Ira Aldridge (1866-1956) may have felt that as a black woman she would have more chance of publication as an unseen man. Indeed, she was right, Montague Ring’s music became very popular across Europe.
The words – originally by Aldridge/Ring – were altered to reflect the story of Aircraft Instrument Engineer LILIAN BADER who was one of the first black women to join the armed forces during WW2. Her “Dark Eyed Soldier” was her husband Ramsay who was one of a small contingent of black soldiers involved in the D Day Landings at Normandy.
Amanda Ira Aldridge was part of a family immersed in the arts, who experienced tragedy in her singing career, became a successful composer under her pseudonym and went on to teach some famous singers and civil rights activists like Paul Robeson, Roland Hayes and Marian Anderson. To find out more about her fascinating life and work please go to her page on the Minerva Scientifica Website https://minervascientifica.co.uk/amanda-ira-aldridge/
The song “Dark Eyed Soldier” was recorded at Birnam Studios, London on May 7th 2020 as part of electric voice theatre’s Minerva Scientifica – Connections 2020 project, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Created by electric voice theatre, Minerva Scientifica is a project that brings together professional performers with community musicians and school children. Together, we raise awareness of the rich heritage and deep connections between music and science, and inspire the next generation of future scientists.
ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE and all our partners and friends are celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) all week
Music & Science by Women
8th – 14th March 2026
New projects and recordings
and more
released online
on each day this week
Start your day the EVT way!
