Maria Bach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Bach
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Maria Baroness von Bach by Ferdinand Hodler
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Emilie Maria Baroness von Bach
11 March 1896 |
| Died | 26 February 1978 (aged 81) Vienna, Austria
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| Nationality | Austrian |
| Occupation | Musician Artist |
Emilie Marie Baroness von Bach (1896–1978) was a talented Austrian musician and artist. She was a pianist, violinist, composer, and painter.
Contents
Maria Bach's Early Life and Family
Maria Bach was born in Vienna, Austria, on March 11, 1896. Her parents were Robert and Eleonore Bach. When she was one year old, her family moved to Leesdorf Castle in Baden, Austria.
Maria came from a very artistic family. Her father, Robert, was a lawyer, but he also loved to paint and play the violin. Her mother, Eleonore, was a singer and composer. She even performed with famous conductors like Gustav Mahler and Johannes Brahms.
Maria had three sisters. Theresa wrote poems that Maria would set to music. Katharina married into a noble family. Henriette became a solo cellist. Music was a big part of their home!
Learning Music as a Child
Maria started piano lessons at age five at the Grimm School of Music. Later, she took lessons from Paul De Conne in 1912. Around the same time, she began violin lessons with Jaroslav Suchy from the Vienna Opera.
Maria and Henriette practiced music for many hours each day. They would often spend three hours reading and learning classical music together. Maria played second violin and viola in her father's home string group.
In 1914, Maria started writing her own music. Her first piece was a prelude, followed by songs and other piano works. When they became more skilled, Maria and Henriette performed at their family's Sunday music gatherings. In 1917, Maria composed a lively solo piano piece called "Flohtanz" (Flea's Dance).
Maria Bach's Music Education
In 1919, Maria Bach began studying music composition at the Vienna Academy of Music. Her teacher was Joseph Marx, a well-known composer.
Under Marx's guidance, Maria learned to write complex musical pieces called fugues. She also wrote short piano scores. Marx helped her study the music of famous composers like Chopin, Debussy, and Stravinsky. He encouraged her to develop her own unique style, using different rhythms and sounds.
Maria made her first public appearance as a composer in 1921. She presented a group of songs called Narrenlieder für Tenor und Orchester. This work was later published in Vienna.
Composing During World War II
During World War II, the Nazi party controlled Austria. They had strict rules about what kind of music could be performed. They preferred classical music that they considered traditional. "Modern" compositions were often not allowed.
Luckily, Maria Bach's music was seen as traditional by Nazi standards. This meant her compositions were allowed to be performed, even during the war.
Relationships and Artistic Life
In the 1920s, Maria Bach became friends with Ivan Boutnikoff, a Russian composer and conductor. He became her teacher for conducting and arranging music for orchestras.
On October 7, 1952, Maria married Arturo Ciacelli. He was an Italian painter who taught art in Vienna. They were married until Arturo passed away in 1966.
During their marriage, Maria started painting landscapes, especially of Italy. Her paintings became very popular, almost as successful as her music! After Arturo's death, Maria stopped creating for a while. But eventually, she returned to composing.
Maria received a gold medal for her compositions in 1962. In 1976, she was given the special title of "professor."
Maria Bach's Later Years and Passing
Maria Bach passed away on February 26, 1978, in Vienna. Her important papers and musical works are kept in the City Hall Library in Vienna.
Selected Musical Works
Maria Bach composed many pieces throughout her life. Here are a few examples:
- 1917: "Flohtanz" (Flea Dance)
- 1921: Narrenlieder (Fool Songs)
- 1922: Sonate für Violoncello und Klavier (Sonata for Cello and Piano)
- 1931: "Arabische Nächte" (Arabian Nights)
- 1935: Ballettsuite in vier Bildern (Ballet Suite in Four Scenes)
- 1935: Streichquartett Nr.1 (String Quartet No. 1)
- 1950: "Das Marienleben" (The Life of the Virgin)
- 1952: "Wie schön bist du mein Wien" (How Beautiful You Are, My Vienna)
- 1958: Fünf Lieder nach Texten von H. Hesse (Five Songs on texts by Hermann Hesse)
- 1967: "Heart to Heart"
