Caroline Wiseneder Explained

Caroline Schneider Wiseneder (20 August 1807 – 25 August 1868) was a German composer and music educator who developed a musical notation system for the blind, as well as a kindergarten music curriculum. She was born in Braunschweig, and married an opera singer named Wiseneder.^[1] She founded several singing societies, in addition to the Wiseneder Music School for the Blind in 1860, which became the model for several schools throughout Germany.^[2] Her method for teaching instrumental music to young children was adopted by the national kindergarten movement established in Germany about 1873.^[3] Among other teaching tools, Caroline used toy orchestra instruments which were carefully tuned to harmonize together.^[4] She believed that children should always be accompanied by an instrument when they sang.^[5] After her death, a marble bust of Caroline was placed in the Braunschweig town library in honor of her achievements.

Caroline composed many melodramas, songs, and educational works, including:

Books

• Selection of Songs and Games from the Kindergarten of the Music Education School in Braunschweig, with an Appendix for the Elementary Class (editor)^[6]
• Song and Movement Games^[7]

Opera

• Das Jubelfest, oder Die drei Gefangenen (The Jubilee, or The Three Prisoners), 1849
• Die Palastdame (The Palace Lady), 1848
• La Dame de Paris (The Lady of Paris)^[8]

Vocal

• Abschied (Farewell), opus 9
• Die Kraft der Erinnerungen (The Power of Memories), opus 8 (words by Robert Burns, translated to German by Wilhelm Gerhard)^[9]
• Es Sitzt eine Jungfrau gefangen (A Virgin is Trapped), opus 16
• Four Lieder, opus 13 (for baritone)^[10]
• Four Lieder, opus 15
• Frühling Frühling wie bist du schön (Spring, Spring, How Beautiful You Are!)
• Ich kann's nicht fassen, nicht glauben (I Can't Grasp It, Nor Believe It)^[11]
• Lebewohl an Maria (Farewell to Maria), opus 10
• Six Lieder, opus 12 (for mezzo-soprano)
• Two Poems, opus 11

Notes and References

1. Book: McVicker, Mary Frech. Women opera composers : biographies from the 1500s to the 21st century. 9 August 2016. 978-0-7864-9513-9. Jefferson, North Carolina. 945767521.
2. Book: Cohen, Aaron I.. International encyclopedia of women composers. 1987. 0-9617485-2-4. Second, revised and enlarged. New York. 16714846.
3. Web site: Dolmetsch Online - Composers Biography W. 2020-07-20. www.dolmetsch.com.
4. Book: Lascarides, V. Celia. History of early childhood education. 2000. Falmer Press. Hinitz, Blythe Simone Farb, 1944-. 978-1-136-70554-0. New York. 846495088.
5. Book: Paedagogischer Jahresbericht .... 1868. de.
6. Web site: Keresés ― Search Liszt Ferenc Memorial Museum and Research Centre. 2020-07-20. catalogue.lisztmuseum.hu.
7. Web site: 1868-10-25. Frühling Frühling wie bist du schön. 2020-07-20. Volkslieder-Archiv. de-DE.
8. Web site: Grande Musica • A Digital Library for Music Lovers • Musical Biographies - W, 2 • Wiseneder, Caroline. 2020-07-20. grandemusica.net.
9. Web site: Burns in 19th-century Germany - "Phillis The Fair" & "Had I A Cave". 2020-07-20. www.justanothertune.com.
10. Book: Handbuch der musikalischen Literatur: oder Verzeichnis der im Deutschen Reiche, in den Ländern des deutschen Sprachgebietes sowie der für den Vertrieb im Deutschen Reiche wichtigen, im Auslande erschienenen Musikalien, auch musikalischen Schriften, Abbildungen und plastischen Darstellungen mit Anzeige der Verleger und Preise. 1844/51. 1852. Hofmeister. de.
11. Web site: I can't grasp it, nor believe it (Chamisso) (The LiederNet Archive: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music). 2020-07-20. www.lieder.net.