BLYTHE, Nellie

Born in Lancashire to George Blythe and Kate Bradstreet Perry, Nellie Blythe developed a reputation as a talented musician and composer at the turn of the 20th century. During an era when female composers faced steep challenges gaining credit, her work achieved international printing and distribution, reaching as far as sheet music merchants in New Zealand. Her compositions primarily consisted of classical piano waltzes and vocal art songs set to poetry: The Dido Waltz (one of her early signature piano pieces that established her reputation as a prominent composer), The Sea Gypsy (a musical setting of the famous poem by Richard Hove), Fear Thou Not, The Swing and The British Main (1917, a patriotic song featuring words written by W.W. Rees and music composed by Blythe. Published by the Frederick Harris Co. in London, this piece was copyrighted in August 1917, marking her final documented work before her death that same year).