Agathe Plitt
Agathe Plitt (1831 - 27 Dec 1902) was a German composer, pianist and teacher. She composed works for piano as well as cantatas,[1] songs, motets,[2] psalms[3] and other choral pieces through at least opus 7.[4] Her career was subsidized by Queen Elizabeth[5] and Empress Augusta, both of Prussia.[6]
Plitt was born in Torun (originally in Prussia; today in Poland).[7] She first studied music in Danzig, where she was considered a child prodigy,[8] then moved to Berlin in 1847. Queen Elizabeth of Prussia gave her a scholarship to study with Wilhelm Taubert. Beginning in 1852, she presented recitals throughout Germany, including in Danzig, Elbing, Konigsberg and Homburg, where she performed with the singer Johanna Wagner.[6] She also began to compose during this time. Composer Carl Friedrich Rungenhagen noted that "Agathe Plitt possesses a distinct talent for composition; her songs bear witness to deep emotional feeling.”[9]
Many of Plitt’s concerts were charitable in nature, given at no cost to hospitals, child care centers, etc.. To support herself, Plitt taught piano and also directed a women’s choir. Towards the end of her life, Empress Augusta of Prussia provided her with a pension, reportedly in recognition of her charitable work[6] which included over 50 concerts for the poor and sick.[9]
Plitt’s compositions were published by Challier & Company, and included:
Piano
[edit]- Three Mazurkas[6]
Vocal
[edit]- Above the Stars (for choir)[10]
- “Aria at the Grave”[9]
- “Easter Cantata”[9]
- Easter Song (for choir and soloists)[9]
- Lord, How Long (for choir)[10]
- O Blessed Easter Days (for choir)[9]
- “Wenn Zwei von Einander Scheiden,” opus 7 no. 2 (text by Heinrich Heine)[11]
- Why Art Thou Cast Down (for choir)[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ Laurence, Anya (1978). Women of Notes: 1,000 Women Composers Born Before 1900. New York: richards Rosen Press Inc. p. 72.
- ↑ Eigler, Friederike; Kord, Susanne (1997-02-28). The Feminist Encyclopedia of German Literature. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-56750-752-2.
- ↑ Wier, Albert E. (1938). The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians. New York: The Macmillan Company. p. 1444.
- ↑ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music USA. p. 553. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
- ↑ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women Composers: A Checklist of Works for the Solo Voice. Boston: G. K. Hall & Co. p. 112.
- 1 2 3 4 "Plitt, Agathe - Sophie Drinker Institut". www.sophie-drinker-institut.de. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen London: the Scarecrow press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
- ↑ Elson, Arthur (1903). Woman's Work in Music: Being an Account of Her Influence on the Art, in Ancient as Well as Modern Times; a Summary of Her Musical Compositions, in the Different Countries of the Civilized World; and an Estimate of Their Rank in Comparison with Those of Men. L.C. Page.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Morsch, Anna (1893). Deutschlands Tonkünstlerinnen: biographische Skizzen aus der Gegenwart (in German). Stern & Ollendorff.
- 1 2 3 Körner, Gotth Wilhelm; Ritter, A. G. (1872). Urania: ein musikalisches Beiblatt zum Orgelfreunde etc. ; zur Belehrung und Unterhaltung für Cantoren, Organisten, Schullehrer etc., so wie für Behörden, Geistliche und Freunde der Orgel und des Orgelspiels (in German). Körner.
- ↑ "Agathe Plitt Song Texts | LiederNet". www.lieder.net. Retrieved 2026-08-21.