Grete von Zieritz (10 March 1899 – 26 November 2001) was an Austrian-German composer and pianist. She studied with

Martin Krause Martin Krause (17 June 18532 August 1918) was a German concert pianist, piano teacher,James Methuen-Campbell (2001). Krause, Martin. ''Grove Music Online'', Oxford University Press Music criticism, music critic, and writer. Career Krause was ...

, a student of

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

Franz Schreker Franz Schreker (originally ''Schrecker''; 23 March 1878 – 21 March 1934) was an Austrian composer, conductor, librettist, teacher and administrator. Primarily a composer of operas, Schreker developed a style characterized by aesthetic pluralit ...

and Rudolf Maria Breithaupt. She became a composer, and music teacher. In 1939 she was the only woman at the International Music Festival in

Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

among composers from 18 nations. In 2009 in Vienna's

Donaustadt Donaustadt (; "Danube City") is the 22nd district of Vienna, Austria (). Donaustadt is the easternmost district of Vienna.Statistik Austria, 2007, webpagestatistik.at-23450. Wien.gv.at webpage (see below: References). Geography The Donaustadt ...

the street Zieritzgasse was named after her.

Life

Grete von Zieritz was born in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

, Austria on 10 March 1899, into a noble family, and grew up in

Innsbruck Innsbruck (; ) is the capital of Tyrol (federal state), Tyrol and the List of cities and towns in Austria, fifth-largest city in Austria. On the Inn (river), River Inn, at its junction with the Wipptal, Wipp Valley, which provides access to the ...

and

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. She received her first piano lessons at the age of six, and later studied at the Styrian Conservatory in

, studying piano with Hugo Kroemer and composition with Roderich Mojsisovics von Mojsvar. She gave her first concert at age eight. Moving to

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

in 1917, she continued her studies with

, a student of

, and Rudolf Maria Breithaupt. After the successful performance of her "Japanese Songs" in 1921, she decided to become a composer. Von Zieritz worked as a music teacher at the Stern Conservatory, and continued to study in

from 1926 to 1931 under

. She toured in Germany and abroad, often performing her own works, and won the Mendelssohn state prize for composition in 1928. She was also awarded a Schubert scholarship by the

Columbia Phonograph Company Columbia Records is an American recor ...

of New York. In 1939 she was the only woman at the International Music Festival in Frankfurt am Main among composers from 18 nations. In 1958 the Austrian Federal President appointed her as Professor, the first woman composer to be so honoured in Austria. In 1988, on the occasion of her 89th birthay, a concert was performed in her honour, a ''Zigeunerkonzert'', given by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2009 in Vienna Donaustadt the Zieritzgasse was named after her. She died in Berlin in 2001.

Awards

*1928:

Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include symphonie ...

-State Award *1928:

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

scholarship to Columbia Phonograph Company *1978: Merit First Class for Science and the Arts *1979: Order of Merit *1982: PRS-Medal of Honour for 50-year membership *1999: Badge of Honour of the National Music Council, Berlin *1999: German Critics' Award (Special)

Works

Grete von Zieritz wrote over 250 works for various ensembles. Selected works include:

Orchestral

* ''Kleine Abendmusik'' for string orchestra (1916) * Triple Fugue for string orchestra (1926) * ''Intermezzo diabolico'' (1932) * ''Bilder vom Jahrmarkt'' for flute and orchestra (1937) * ''Das Gifthorner Konzert'' for flute, harp, and strings (1940) * Triple Concerto for flute, clarinet, bassoon, and orchestra (1950) * ''Le violon de la mort (Danses macabres)'' for violin, piano, and orchestra (1956–1957) * Divertimento for 12 solo instruments and chamber orchestra (1962) * ''Sizilianische Rhapsodie'' for violin and orchestra (1965) * Concerto for 2 trumpets and orchestra (1975) * Organ Concerto (1977) * Fanfare (1979) * ''Zigeunerkonzert'' for violin and orchestra (1982)

Chamber

*''Japanese Songs'' for soprano and piano (1919) *''Prelude and Fugue'' in C minor for piano (1924) * Sonata for viola and piano, Op. 67 (1939) *''Kaleidoskop'', Duo for violin and viola, Op. 127 (1969) * Suite for viola solo, Op. 141 (1976) *''Prelude and Fugue'' for organ (1977) *''Kassandra-Rufe'' for eight solo instruments and nonet (1985/86)

Vocal

With orchestra

* ''Passion im Urwald'' for soprano and orchestra with text by the composer (1930) * ''Vogellieder'' for soprano, flute, and orchestra (1933) * ''Hymne'' for baritone and orchestra on texts by Novalis (1943) * ''Die Zigeunerin Agriffina'' for soprano and orchestra (1956) * ''Japanische Lieder'' for soprano and chamber orchestra (1972)

Unaccompanied

* ''Dem Zonnengott'' for women's chorus on texts by Hölderlin (1940) * ''Berglied'' for mixed chorus (1962) * ''4 Alt-Aztekische Gesänge'' for mixed chorus (1966) * ''5 Portugiesisch-Spanische Gesänge'' for mixed chorus (1966) * 7 Gesänge for mixed chorus on texts of "contemporary black poetry" (1966) * 3 Chöre for men's chorus on texts by Fontane (1973)