Previous posts for May 31st are found here: Alfred Deller (2019) and Marin Marais (2020)
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Louise Farrenc (31 May 1804 – 15 September 1875) was a French composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher.
Women's Work
Farrenc was paid less than her male counterparts for nearly a decade. --- Wikipedia
The Nonet was such a critical success that it gave Farrenc the courage to complain to the director of the Conservatory, Daniel Auber, about how much less she was paid than comparable male faculty. Her letter goes into detail, and it is a measure of the respect she had earned that Auber immediately agreed to raise her salary to parity.--- Barney Sherman, at Iowa Public Radio
Louise Farrenc’s anger ripened
When she learned her yearly stipend,
Compared to any male professor,
Was never greater, always lesser.
She copied out some resumés,
Demanded, and received, a raise.
Postcript
I wish that this P.S. or sequel
Could report les femmes were equal,
But in this century (twenty-first)
They’re still unfairly reimbursed,
Still fighting for the simple perk
Of equal pay for equal work.
