Women in the Musical Culture of Danzig in the First Half of the 20th Century

The musical culture of pre-war Danzig/Gdansk remains an area that is not well enough recognized in the scholarly literature. Numerous traces of this musical life are preserved in the collections of the Gdansk Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The collection ranges from scholarly publications and scores to an extensive number of concert programs and posters. The collection testifies to the dynamism and diversity of the city’s pre-war musical life. Notable among the collected materials is the role of female figures—composers, singers, and instrumentalists who made significant contributions to the shape of Gdansk musical life. In this article, I will present forgotten profiles of musically committed women: Martha Reincke, Ella Mertins, and Lotte Prins. In light of the surviving materials, it can be assumed that they were significant figures in the musical culture and social life of the city.