Marian Arkwright was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England, and received a doctorate in music at Durham University,[1] one of the first English women to do so.[2] After completing her studies, she worked as an orchestral musician and composer and conducted orchestras including the Newbury Amateur Orchestral Society. She served as secretary of the English Ladies' Orchestral Society.[3] She received a prize from The Gentlewoman for an original orchestral work The Winds of the World.[4]
Arkwright was noted for unusual instrument combinations. Selected works include:
Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon
Trio for piano, oboe and horn
Trio for pianoforte, oboe and viola
Scherzo and Variations for piano, clarinet and bassoon
Rêveries for piano, oboe and viola
She published three volumes of violin and piano duets and two Concert Pieces for viola and piano.[5] She took an interest in folk music and her Japanese Symphony contained airs that she had noted down herself.[1]
