Marthe Servine (1862 in Paris – 1960[1]) was a French-American composer and pianist, primarily known for her works for solo piano, and songs.
[6] Her works were also played in concerts of which she was not a part, by the Brosa and Kutcher String Quartets,[6] among others, and “many distinguished British singers have featured her songs.”[2] In 1939 or 1940, Servine returned to New York.
[8] F. D. Perkins, writing in the New-York Tribune shortly after the concert, described her music as showing “solid and well-schooled musicianship and knowledge of form and generosity regarding melody”.
[4] In the early 1940s, Servine married American Malcolm Dougherty, and around the year 1945 they moved together to Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
[2][4] The Musical America reviewer, known only by the initial "C.," states that "The music heard on this occasion follows both traditional structural models and the traditional melodic feeling of the later Romantic school...the composer approached her group of instruments from the standpoint of orchestral coloring and the opulent sonorities achieved added a general lushness of effect to the melodic element".
[7] Her works were viewed very positively by most, including J.B of the New York Post, who said "Madame Servine, judging by yesterday afternoon's offerings, just misses being a great composer".
The reviewer from Musical America known as C. said that she “proved to be a pianist of noteworthy virility of style, with an entirely adequate technique and the command of a rich warm tone”.