ABSTRACT
Speaking on a radio programme shortly after Grace Williams’s death, William Mathias paid tribute to her absolute integrity and professionalism. As he stated,
she grew up between the wars at a time when one had to fight especially hard … to acquire professionalism and at a time when it was hard enough for a man to aspire to be a composer let alone a woman. She faced many more difficulties than the young music student of today, and won her fight through her professional dedication to the importance of music as a language – and in doing so made things easier for those who were to come. 1
