Hedwig von Trapp
Encyclopedia
Hedwig Maria Adolphine Gobertina von Trapp (28 July 1917 – 14 September 1972) was the fifth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead (1890–1922). She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music
. She was portrayed as the character "Brigitta".
during World War I
with her siblings: Rupert von Trapp
(1911–1992) Agathe von Trapp
(1913–2010), Maria Franziska von Trapp
(born 1914), Werner von Trapp
and Johanna von Trapp
(1919–1994). The last sister Martina von Trapp
(1921–1951) was born in Klosterneuburg (Austria). The Von Trapp family moved from Zell-am-See to Klosterneuburg
, when their home, the lake hotel "Kitzsteinhorn", was flooded. Before living in the "Kitzsteinhorn", the Von Trapp family lived on a farm called "Erlhof" near Agathe Whitehad von Trapp's mother and her sisters.
In 1922, her mother died of scarlet fever and was buried in Klosterneuburg. Hedwig was then five years old. In 1925, the Von Trapp family moved to Salzburg-Aigen, and she entered the Ursuline convent as a student, together with her sisters.
In 1927, her father, Georg Ludwig von Trapp, married Maria Augusta Kutschera
(1905–1987), the teacher of her sisters (Maria Franziska and Johanna). Georg and Maria Augusta had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (born 1929), Eleonore von Trapp (born 1931), and Johannes von Trapp
(born 1939).
The family left Austria in summer of 1938 and went to America. Hedwig was now in her early twenties. She sang alto in the family chorus and alpine yodels, standing behind an open grand piano to achieve an alpine-like echo effect. She became a naturalized United States citizen
in 1948. After the Trapp Family Singers disbanded, she started her teaching career in Honolulu, directing a children's choir, teaching handicrafts, carpentry, and cooking. She taught music at St. Anthony School in Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii, throughout the 1960s, living in a small cottage next to the school grounds and continued to wear her traditional German/Austrian clothing (tracht
) every day. She visited her aunt in Zell am See in 1972 and died there at the age of 55 of asthma
. She was buried at the Lodge in Vermont
, next to her father, her stepmother and her siblings, Rupert, Werner, and Martina.
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
. She was portrayed as the character "Brigitta".
Biography
Hedwig was named after her paternal grandmother. Hedwig had brown hair and grey eyes. She grew up in Zell am SeeZell am See
Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
with her siblings: Rupert von Trapp
Rupert von Trapp
Rupert Georg von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. He was portrayed as the character "Friedrich".-Biography:...
(1911–1992) Agathe von Trapp
Agathe von Trapp
Agathe Johanna Erwina Gobertina von Trapp was the eldest daughter of Georg von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music...
(1913–2010), Maria Franziska von Trapp
Maria F. von Trapp
Maria Agatha Franziska Gobertina von Trapp is the second-oldest daughter of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and Agatha Whitehead von Trapp. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the musical play The Sound of Music...
(born 1914), Werner von Trapp
Werner von Trapp
Werner Ritter von Trapp was the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. He was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
and Johanna von Trapp
Johanna von Trapp
Johanna Karolina von Trapp was the sixth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. She was portrayed as the character "Marta".-Early life:Johanna was...
(1919–1994). The last sister Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers and was the seventh child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1921–1951) was born in Klosterneuburg (Austria). The Von Trapp family moved from Zell-am-See to Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg is an attractive small town in Lower Austria, Austria with a population of 24,442.It is located on the Danube, immediately north of Vienna, from which it is separated by the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg hills...
, when their home, the lake hotel "Kitzsteinhorn", was flooded. Before living in the "Kitzsteinhorn", the Von Trapp family lived on a farm called "Erlhof" near Agathe Whitehad von Trapp's mother and her sisters.
In 1922, her mother died of scarlet fever and was buried in Klosterneuburg. Hedwig was then five years old. In 1925, the Von Trapp family moved to Salzburg-Aigen, and she entered the Ursuline convent as a student, together with her sisters.
In 1927, her father, Georg Ludwig von Trapp, married Maria Augusta Kutschera
Maria von Trapp
Maria Augusta von Trapp , also known as Baroness Maria von Trapp, was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers...
(1905–1987), the teacher of her sisters (Maria Franziska and Johanna). Georg and Maria Augusta had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (born 1929), Eleonore von Trapp (born 1931), and Johannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp is a former member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(born 1939).
The family left Austria in summer of 1938 and went to America. Hedwig was now in her early twenties. She sang alto in the family chorus and alpine yodels, standing behind an open grand piano to achieve an alpine-like echo effect. She became a naturalized United States citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
in 1948. After the Trapp Family Singers disbanded, she started her teaching career in Honolulu, directing a children's choir, teaching handicrafts, carpentry, and cooking. She taught music at St. Anthony School in Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii, throughout the 1960s, living in a small cottage next to the school grounds and continued to wear her traditional German/Austrian clothing (tracht
Tracht
Tracht is a traditional national costume in German-speaking countries. Although the word is most often associated with Austrian and Bavarian costumes, many other peoples of Germany have them.-History:...
) every day. She visited her aunt in Zell am See in 1972 and died there at the age of 55 of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. She was buried at the Lodge in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, next to her father, her stepmother and her siblings, Rupert, Werner, and Martina.
External links
- Hedwig von Trapp at Findagrave