Juliane Reichardt facts for kids

Juliane Reichardt, born Benda (May 14, 1752 – May 9 or 11, 1783), was a talented musician from Bohemia. She was a skilled pianist, a beautiful singer, and a composer.

A Musician's Life

Juliane Reichardt was born in Potsdam, Germany, on May 14, 1752. She was the youngest of six children. Her father was Franz Benda, a very famous violinist and composer. He worked as the concert master for Frederick II of Prussia, also known as Frederick the Great. Her mother was Franziska Louise Eleonore Benda.

Juliane's older sister, Maria Caroline Wolf, also became a well-known singer, pianist, and composer. Juliane learned music from her father. She performed in concerts in Berlin as both a singer and a pianist.

In 1776, Juliane married Johann Friedrich Reichardt. He was also a writer and a composer. They had three children together. Their second child, Louise Reichardt, born in 1779, later became a famous composer herself.

After they married, Juliane and Johann Friedrich Reichardt moved to Berlin. They also lived in other cities like Hamburg, Weimar, and Königsberg. Sadly, Juliane Reichardt passed away in Berlin on May 11, 1783, due to an illness she got after childbirth. She was just shy of her 31st birthday.

Early Life and Family

Juliane grew up in a small suburb of Potsdam called Nowawes. Her family lived in a countryside setting. Her father, Franz Benda, was a very talented musician. He composed music, played the violin wonderfully, and was a good singer. He also taught both violin and singing lessons. Juliane learned singing and piano from him.

Many important people visited the Benda family home. These visitors included Charles Burney, a famous writer about music and travel. Another visitor was Johann Friedrich Reichardt, who would later become Juliane's husband.

Johann Friedrich Reichardt was very impressed when he first visited the Benda home in Potsdam. He wrote about it later, saying that he was warmly welcomed by the family. He heard many things that made him respect the "great Benda school" of music even more. He especially noted Juliane, saying she sang with a "beautiful, pure voice" and an "expressive manner."

Marriage and Career

Johann Friedrich Reichardt's interest in Juliane Benda grew. He even dedicated a performance to her, showing his love. The main challenge for them to be together was his job security. So, Juliane's father, Franz Benda, helped Johann Friedrich Reichardt get a job with King Frederick II of Prussia.

In 1775, Johann Friedrich Reichardt applied for the position of court master. On Christmas Day of 1775, he was officially presented to the King. He was then appointed as the court master.

Juliane and Johann Friedrich Reichardt got married on November 23, 1776. Their wedding was a big event in Berlin.

In October 1777, their first son, Friedrich Wilhelm, was born. Their second child, Louise Reichardt, was born on April 11, 1779. Louise later became a well-respected composer of songs, a vocal teacher, and a choir leader.

In 1780, Juliane and Johann Friedrich traveled to Weimar with their two children. There, they met Caroline and Johann Gottfried Herder, another famous writer. Herder wrote to a friend about their visit, saying the Reichardt family stayed for over eight days.

Sadly, Juliane's third child, Wilhelmine, was born on March 31, 1783, but only lived for a few weeks. Juliane herself passed away on May 11, 1783, in Berlin. She died from an illness after childbirth, just before her 31st birthday. She was in the middle of a promising music career.

Musical Works

Juliane Reichardt composed and published several musical pieces during her lifetime. She published two piano sonatas and thirty songs.

Her collection of "Lieder und Klaviersonaten" (Songs and Piano Sonatas) was published in Hamburg in 1782. This collection included 17 songs and two sonatas. About 13 other songs by her appeared in music books and in a collection by her husband between 1779 and 1781.

One of her well-known works is:

• Sonata in G Major
  • A part of this work, Sonata in G major - Rondeau Allegro, can be heard on the album Mozart in the Age of Enlightenment by Seth Carlin, released in 2006.

Other titles of her works include:

• "Zwei Sonaten für Klavier" (Two Sonatas for Piano)
• "Klaviersonata" (Piano Sonata)
• "2 Sonaten fuer Klavier" (2 Sonatas for Piano)
• "Das Deutsche Lied : Ein Jahreskreis [auf 1925]" (The German Song: A Year Cycle [from 1925])