Agnes Clune Quinlan

Agnes Clune Quinlan (20 September 1873 - 21 May 1949) was an Irish composer, lecturer and pianist who wrote Gaelic-influenced[1] music for piano and voice[2] and recorded commercially as a pianist. She moved to America and died in Philadelphia.[3]

Quinlan was born in Limerick, Ireland.[4] She studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where her teachers included Henry Davenport, Frederick Eyres, and Arthur O’Leary. She was awarded medals by the Royal Academy of Music and by the Society of Arts, also in London.[5]

Quinlan traveled to New York in 1895[6] and in 1900 was living at the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus in Delaware, Pennsylvania.[7] In addition to composing, she was listed as a speaker[8] with The Lecture Guild in New York City.[9] She gave lecture recitals on various musical topics, including weekly talks on Philadelphia Orchestra programs during its winter season,[10] and a lecture on ancient music and musical instruments of Ireland.[11] With Katherine Bregy, she gave a lecture recital on modern French music and poetry.[12] She wrote at least one article for The Etude entitled The Music of Ireland.[13]

As a pianist, Quinlan made several trial recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor), and one commercial recording, B-25939.[14] She also served as the accompanist for the Mendelssohn Club of Germantown, Pennsylvania.[15]

Quinlan taught at Sharon Hill Academy, the Ogontz School, the Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware,[5] and at the Catholic Suminer School in Cliff Haven, New York.[16] Her compositions were published by Theodore Presser Company [17] and Oliver Ditson.[18] They included:

Piano

Vocal

  • “April in Killarney” (text by Perrin H. Lowrey)[13]
  • “Far Away From Ireland”[17]
  • Fifteen Hymns for Use in the Catholic Church[18]
  • “I Know a Lovely Island”[17]
  • “In Absence”[17]
  • “Irish Song”[20]
  • “Legend of Wicklow”[17]
  • “Love in a Garden”[17]
  • “Near the Well”[17]
  • “One Little Bunch of Heather”[21]
  • “Over the Hills to Mary”[17]

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music USA. p. 568. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
  2. ^ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: a checklist of works for the solo voice. A Reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: G.K. Hall. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.
  3. ^ "Agnes Clune Quinlan". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
  4. ^ Wier, Albert E. (1938). The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians. New York: The Macmillan Company. p. 1484.
  5. ^ a b "Miss Agnes C. Quinlan". New York Times. 23 May 1949. p. 23.
  6. ^ "In New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
  7. ^ "1900 United States Federal Census". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
  8. ^ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
  9. ^ Official Register and Directory of the Women's Clubs in America: 1921. Helen M. Winslow. 1921.
  10. ^ "Agnes Clune Quinlan". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 5 July 1939. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Traces Origin of Irish Music". Lancaster New Era. 18 March 1924. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Miss Bregy Will Speak to Bala Women's Club". Catholic Standard & Times. 33 (2): 4.
  13. ^ a b Quinlan, Agnes Clune (March 1926). "The Music of Ireland" (PDF). The Etude: cover.
  14. ^ "Agnes Clune Quinlan". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  15. ^ The Musical Blue Book of America. Musical Blue Book Corporation. 1919.
  16. ^ "Agnes Clune Quinlan Reviews Modern Music". Catholic Standard & Times. 27 (5): 2. 10 December 1921.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Four Celebrated Women Whose Song Compositions Rank High Among Contemporary Composer" (PDF). The Etude: inside cover. September 1928.
  18. ^ a b The Ecclesiastical Review. American ecclesiastical review. 1914.
  19. ^ "Lecture Recital". Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). 6 Mar 1911. p. 5.
  20. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series: Maps. Copyright Office, the Library of Congress. 1947.
  21. ^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1908). Catalog of Copyright Entries.
  22. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1938.
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