Antoinette Kirkwood (born 1930) is an English composer born in London. She studied piano and composition with Dorothy Howell at the Royal Academy in London and often accompanied her mother, who was a lieder singer. For four years beginning in 1969, she was a member of the Executive Committee of the Composers’ Guild of Great Britain, now the British Association of Composers and Songwriters. Radio Éireann broadcast her music. This “very notable achievement” established that Kirkwood “can write a memorable tune in a definite key” that will captivate the listener
Kirkwood married writer Richard Phibbs in 1961.
Kirkwood composes for ballet, symphony, ensembles and for solo instruments. She composed two ballets, symphonic and orchestral works, chamber music and instrumental works. Selected works include:
Symphony No. 1 op. 8Alessandro op. 12 - (Music Drama after the book by Gerard McLarnon)Musa the Saint op. 16 - (Ballet after the book by Antoinette Kirkwood)Fantasia No. 1 op. 13Fantasia No. 2 op. 14Fantasia No. 3 op. 18Suite for Strings op. 5The Empty Stable op. 10 - Incidental MusicUnhallowed op. 4 - Incidental MusicSonata op. 6 for Violoncello and PianoPetite Suite op. 20 No. 2 for GuitarRapsodie No. 1 op. 21 No. 4 for Viola and GuitarSoliloquy op. 19 No. 3 for GuitarLargo op. 17 No. 1 for Flute and PianoRapsodie op. 19 No. 2 for Harp soloSleepy Waters in the Moonlight for 2 Violins and VioloncelloSonatina op. 2 No. 1, pianoNocturne op. 2 No. 2, pianoCarol SATB and pianoThe Fly op. 7 No. 1 (William Blake)The Barrel Organ op. 7 No. 5 (Michael Ashe)Must she go? op. 9 No. 1 (James Forsyth)Morning in Bengal op. 9 No. 2 (Anthony Hayward)The Tourney op. 9 No. 3 (Anthony Hayward)Remorse op. 9 No. 4 (Michael O'Hagan)The Song of the Fisherman of Cacru op. 11 No. 3 (James Forsyth)The Oyster-Catcher’s Song op. 11 No. 4 (James Forsyth)Der Schiffbrüchige op. 15 (Heinrich Heine)Krönung op. 17 No. 2 (Heinrich Heine) High Voice and StringsHer works have been recorded and issued on media, including:
Six Intermezzi - A Potpourri of Piano MusicSonata for Violoncello and PianoWomen Composers - Vol. I CDWomen Composers - Vol. II CD