Dora Pejačević facts for kids
Countess Dora Pejačević (born September 10, 1885 – died March 5, 1923) was an important Croatian composer. She was part of the noble Pejačević family. Dora was one of the first composers to bring orchestral songs to Croatian music. Her Symphony in F-sharp minor is seen as the first modern symphony in Croatian music.
Early Life
Dora Pejačević was born in Budapest, which was then part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Her father was Count Teodor Pejacsevich, a Croatian ban (a high-ranking official). Her mother, Baroness Elisabeth Josepha, was a talented pianist who first taught Dora music.
Dora's family was a very old and respected noble family from Slavonia, a region in Croatia. Her mother's family was also very important in Budapest. Because of her mother's love for music, Dora was drawn to it instead of just the usual noble lifestyle.
Dora started composing music when she was only 12 years old. She learned music privately in cities like Zagreb, Dresden, and Munich. She took lessons in how to arrange music for orchestras, how to compose, and how to play the violin. However, she mostly taught herself.
Career and Personal Life
In 1913, Dora Pejačević wrote a piano concerto. This was her first piece for orchestra and made her the first Croatian composer to write a concerto. Her early works were mainly piano pieces, sonatas, and songs. They were considered very high-quality music. Many of her pieces were first performed in Germany by famous musicians of that time.
When her Symphony in F Sharp Minor was first played in Vienna, a critic was surprised to see a woman come onto the stage. This shows how special and important she was as a woman composer in the early 1900s. Throughout her life, Dora's music was performed in many cities, including Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Munich, Dresden, and her hometown of Našice.
She married Ottomar von Lumbe in 1921. Even though Dora often felt lonely, she met many famous musicians and writers. She became friends with the Austrian writer Karl Kraus and the Czech noblewoman Sidonie von Thun und Hohenstein.
Death
Dora Pejačević sadly passed away in Munich in 1923. She died about four weeks after her son, Theo, was born. Some sources say she died from kidney failure, while others say it was from problems during childbirth. She asked for her tombstone to simply say "Dora" with the words "Rest Now." She is buried in the cemetery in Našice, Croatia.
Legacy
Dora Pejačević is known as a very important Croatian composer. She created a large collection of 58 opuses, which include 106 musical pieces. Most of her music is in the late Romantic style. She wrote songs, piano works, chamber music (for small groups of instruments), and several pieces for large orchestras. Many people believe her orchestral works are her best.
Her Symphony in F-sharp minor is considered the first modern symphony in Croatian music. A lot of her music has not yet been officially published or released on CDs. However, there have been recent efforts to change this. For example, the Croatian Music Information Centre has published some of her music scores. They also released a book about her in 2008, along with a CD of her piano and chamber music.
Dora's life was also made into a Croatian movie called Countess Dora in 1993.
Works
Dora Pejačević composed many different types of music. Her works include:
- Vocal compositions: These are songs for a singer, sometimes with piano or orchestral accompaniment. She wrote many "Lieder" (German songs) and also three children's songs in Croatian.
- Compositions for solo piano: She wrote many pieces just for the piano, including sonatas, waltzes, and short fantasy pieces.
- Chamber compositions: These are pieces for small groups of instruments, like a violin and piano, or a trio for violin, cello, and piano. She also wrote string quartets and a piano quintet.
- Orchestral compositions: These are her larger works for a full orchestra. They include her Piano Concerto, her famous Symphony in F-sharp minor, and an Overture.
See also
In Spanish: Dora Pejačević para niños
