Yet, in spite of all these obstacles, there have been a number of women composers, whose works were appreciated by all their contemporaries. During the glorious time of the Renaissance =Francesca Caccini=, born in 1581 at Florence, was the pride of her city because of her magnificent church music and madrigals. Compositions of =Vittoria Aleotti=, a native of Argenta, were likewise much admired, especially her great opus, which was published at Venice, in 1593, under the flowery title “Ghirlanda dei Madrigali a 4 voci.” =Maddalena Casulana= of Brescia, produced also a number of fine madrigals, which were issued in two volumes in 1568 and 1583. =Cornelia Calegari=, of Bergamo, =Barbara Strozzi=, of Venice, belong also to the Italian composers of the Renaissance. =Maria Teresa Agnesi=, born during the 18th Century, produced a number of cantatas, and three operas, “Sophonisbe,” “Ciro in Armenia,” and “Nitocri,” which were the delight of all Italy. In Austria at the same time appeared =Maria Teresa Paradies=, born at Vienna in 1759. Notwithstanding her blindness, dating from her fourth year, she had become a most remarkable pianist and composer, dictating her cantatas and several operettas. In 1784 she set out on a concert tour through Germany and England, everywhere exciting admiration by her rare endowments. She often moved her audiences to tears by a cantata, the words of which were written by the blind poet Pfeffel, in which her own fate was depicted. During the later part of her life she presided over an excellent musical institute in Vienna. In another native of Vienna, =Marianne Martinez=, the qualities of many distinguished artists were combined. Not only did she sing beautifully, but she was likewise an excellent pianist; her compositions showed a vigor of conception together with extensive learning. She composed several cantatas, and a miserere, with orchestral accompaniment. Her oratorio “Isacca” was in 1788 produced by the Tonkuenstler Gesellschaft. Her salons, in which she gave weekly concerts, were the rendezvous of many musical celebrities. Foremost among the women-composers of Germany was =Clara Josephine Wieck-Schumann=, the accomplished pianist and unexcelled interpreter of her husband’s, Robert Schumann’s, splendid works. She also produced a large number of songs of great merit, many of which have been published. =Francesca Lebrun=, born 1756 at Mannheim, wrote several sonatas for piano, and trios for piano, violin and cello. =Louise Reichard=, of Berlin, =Corona Schroeter=, the famous artist of the 18th Century, =Fanny Cecilia Hensel=, born 1805 in Hamburg, and =Josephine Lang=, born 1815 in Munich, composed very beautiful songs. A “Suite for Pianoforte” (Op. 2) by =Adele aus der Ohe= has likewise received highest praise.