Alexandra Thomson

{{Short description|British composer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Alexandra Thomson Studholme (24 May 1867 – 15 October 1907){{Cite book|last1=Murray (M.A.)|first1=Hugh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-9KAQAAIAAJ&q=Alexandra+Thomson+composer|title=Monuments in York Minster: an illustrated inventory|last2=Friends|first2=York Minster|date=2001|publisher=The Friends of York Minster|isbn=978-0-9539048-2-2|language=en}} was a British composer{{Cite book|last1=Hixon|first1=Donald L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AiMKAQAAMAAJ&q=Alexandra+Thompson+composer|title=Women in Music: An Encyclopedic Biobibliography|last2=Hennessee|first2=Don A.|date=1993|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-2769-1|language=en}} who published her music under the name Alexandra Thomson (also seen as Thompson). She is best remembered today for her work for chorus and orchestra, Battle of the Baltic.

Thomson's parents were Zoe Skene and the Reverend William Thomson,{{Cite web|title=Alexandra Thomson - Studholme|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Alexandra-Thomson-Studholme/6000000008987076628|access-date=2021-07-14|website=geni_family_tree|date=30 December 1867 |language=en-US}} the Archbishop of York.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qVwdAQAAIAAJ&q=Alexandra+Thompson+composer|title=The Ampleforth Journal|date=1945|publisher=Ampleforth College|language=en}} On 23 June 1897 Thomson married John Studholme (1864-1934) and they had four sons: John, Richard, Derek, and Humphrey.{{Cite web|title=Parish of Whitehaven {{!}} William Thompson-86th Archbishop of York|url=https://www.whitehavenparish.org.uk/about-us/st-nicholas-centre/guided-tour/william-thompson86th-archbishop-of-york.php|access-date=2021-07-14|website=www.whitehavenparish.org.uk}}

Thomson studied music with Dr. John Naylor.{{Cite book|last=Cohen|first=Aaron I.|title=Encyclopedia of Women Composers|publisher=Books & Music U.S.A.|year=1987|isbn=0961748516|location=New York|pages=697}} In October 1890, Her composition Battle of the Baltic for chorus and orchestra, text by Thomas Campbell, was performed at the Hovingham Festival in 1890.{{Cite book|last1=Brown|first1=James Duff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V_U5AAAAIAAJ&dq=Alexandra+Thomson+composer&pg=PA411|title=British Musical Biography: A Dictionary of Musical Artists, Authors, and Composers Born in Britain and Its Colonies|last2=Stratton|first2=Stephen Samuel|date=1897|publisher=S.S. Stratton|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Fuller-Maitland|first1=John Alexander|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbdNAQAAMAAJ&dq=Alexandra+Thompson+composer&pg=PA29|title=Dictionary of Music and Musicians|last2=Grove|first2=George|date=1922|publisher=Presser|language=en}} She wrote articles about music{{Cite book|last=Barger|first=Judith|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-tFRDQAAQBAJ&dq=Alexandra+Thompson+composer&pg=PA1|title=Music in The Girl's Own Paper: An Annotated Catalogue, 1880-1910|date=2016-09-13|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-315-53491-6|language=en}} and composed songs and madrigals,{{Cite book|last=Stern|first=Susan|title=Women Composers: A Handbook|publisher=Scarecrow Press Inc.|year=1978|isbn=0810811383|location=New Jersey & London}} including Fairy Queene (SATB madrigal){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0WlCAQAAMAAJ&dq=Alexandra+Thomson+composer&pg=PA207|title=Musical News|date=1896|language=en}} and Shepherd's Elegy: Holiday in Arcady.{{Cite book|last=Laurence|first=Anya|title=Women of Notes: 1,000 Women Composers Born Before 1900|publisher=Richards Rosen Press Inc.|year=1978|location=New York|pages=51}}