Sophia Maria Westenholz
Encyclopedia
Sophia Maria Westenholz, née Fritscher (1943–1991) was a German
composer
, musician, singer and music educator. She was born into a privileged family and spent most of her life in the courts of Schwerin
and Ludwigslust
, capitals of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She studied music with Konzertmeister J. W. Hertel in Schwerin beginning at age ten and entered the court orchestra at sixteen. The court moved from Schwerin to Ludwigslust, and Sophia married the new Konzertmeister Carl Friedrich Westenholz, appointed in 1967, who was also a composer of sacred works.
When Carl Westenholz died in 1789, Sophia received the title of Kapellmeisterin at Ludwigslust, and continued her career as a singer, teacher and pianist. In this role, she taught music to the Ludwigslust princesses and composed and performed her own works at court. Three of her eight children became notable musicians. She retired from her court position in 1821 with a pension and had a number of her compositions published in her lifetime.
Lieder with Unadorned Melodies:
Lieder With Ornamented Melodies:
Lieder That Represent the Early Romantic Style:
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, musician, singer and music educator. She was born into a privileged family and spent most of her life in the courts of Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
and Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 40 km south of Schwerin. It was the capital of the former district of Ludwigslust, and is part of the district Ludwigslust-Parchim since September 2011.-History:...
, capitals of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She studied music with Konzertmeister J. W. Hertel in Schwerin beginning at age ten and entered the court orchestra at sixteen. The court moved from Schwerin to Ludwigslust, and Sophia married the new Konzertmeister Carl Friedrich Westenholz, appointed in 1967, who was also a composer of sacred works.
When Carl Westenholz died in 1789, Sophia received the title of Kapellmeisterin at Ludwigslust, and continued her career as a singer, teacher and pianist. In this role, she taught music to the Ludwigslust princesses and composed and performed her own works at court. Three of her eight children became notable musicians. She retired from her court position in 1821 with a pension and had a number of her compositions published in her lifetime.
Works
Selected works include:Lieder with Unadorned Melodies:
- Das Grab
- Die Erscheinung
- Frühlingsreigen
- Meine Wünsche
Lieder With Ornamented Melodies:
- Das Glücke der Liebe
- Huldigung
- Lied der Liebe
Lieder That Represent the Early Romantic Style:
- Morgenlied
- Weine nicht, es ist vergebens
- Trost der Hoffnung
- Der Bund
Singles
- Sweet Dreams, Kitty - UK #3
- La Beau de Choine - UK #9
- Opera Time - UK #25
- Renaissance - UK #38
- Boys of The Victorian Times - UK #59
- You Don't Love Me - UK #87
- Grande - UK #123
- Know Me - UK #185
- Lips - UK #1
- Rags - UK #1
- Kiss Me Now - UK #1
- Pick Pockets - UK #10
- Lonely - UK #6
- You Don't Love You - UK #4
- No Rights - UK #9
- World At Your Fingertips - UK #5
- Boat Secks - UK #1
- Oi, There! (featuring Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
- UK #2