Alice Samter facts for kids
Alice Samter (born June 11, 1908 – died March 19, 2004) was a German music teacher and a talented composer. She created many different kinds of music.
About Her Life
Alice Samter was born in Berlin, Germany. Even though her family was not rich, she worked hard. She first trained as an accountant. But her true passion was music! She studied piano, how to create music on the spot (improvisation), and how to lead choirs. She also learned about teaching music in schools.
In 1945, Alice became a music teacher in schools in Spandau, a part of Berlin. This is where she started writing "school operas." These were special operas for students to perform. After teaching for many years, she retired in 1970. Then, she became a full-time composer, focusing only on creating music.
Alice Samter was part of several groups for composers. These groups helped connect musicians and share their work. Her music was played all over the world. In 1988, she received a very important award called the Federal Cross of Merit. This award recognized her great contributions to music.
In 1999, Alice Samter wanted to help young musicians. She started the Alice Samter Foundation at the Berlin University of the Arts. This foundation helps music students with their studies. She also gave money to the Berlin State Library. This money helped the library buy old music papers from famous women composers like Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn.
During World War II, Alice Samter's family home was destroyed by a bomb. She then moved to an apartment in Charlottenburg with her mother and adopted sister. She lived there for the rest of her life. Her life and music were even featured in documentary films. Her personal papers and music are now kept safe in the Berlin State Library. Alice Samter wrote her very last song in 2003, just a year before she passed away.
Her Music Works
Alice Samter wrote many different types of music. Her compositions include:
- Music for choirs (groups of singers).
- Chamber music (music for a small group of instruments).
- Six operas and three school operas.
- Music for piano.
- Songs for a single singer with instruments playing along.
Here are some examples of her works:
- The ideal woman (1988) – a song for three parts of a choir.
- Freedom, equality, fraternity (1988) – a cantata for a mixed choir and several instruments like flute, clarinet, and cello. A cantata is like a story told with music and singing.
- Two choirs (1986) – two pieces for mixed voices, one about monkeys and another about a snuff box.
- We saved (1970) – a piece for a female choir, violin, cello, and piano.
