The average music history textbook is largely about music written by educated white male composers from western Europe. Recent musicological efforts to diversify the canon have unearthed some splendid works by female composers, but in many cases the limited education and opportunities available to most women are all too evident. In this programme we will introduce you to some remarkable early modern women who left a tangible musical legacy in many ways - including as successful composers, but also as patrons of writers, musicians and instrument makers; as performers themselves; as students and scribes; as organisers and networkers; as muses and poets; and finally, as printers and publishers.