Marie Siegling facts for kids

Photo of composer Marie Regina Siegling, courtesy of Wolfgang Horlbeck, Germany.

Marie Regina Siegling (born February 7, 1824 – died January 2, 1920) was an American composer. She wrote beautiful music and shared her talents with the world. Marie was known for her piano pieces and her memoir.

Marie Siegling's Early Life

Marie was born in Charleston, South Carolina, a city in South Carolina. Her father, Johann Zacharias Siegling, was from Prussia (part of modern-day Germany). He was a talented instrument maker and music publisher. In 1819, he started his own business called Siegling Music House.

Marie was the oldest daughter in her family. She probably started learning music from her mother. Growing up in a musical home helped her develop her amazing talent.

Studying and Performing Abroad

Marie later went to Europe to continue her education. She became a professional musician and composer. In 1844, she traveled with her father to Havana, Cuba. Her father had a music store there. They stayed in Cuba for three months.

While in Cuba, Marie performed often. People called her "Charleston's Jenny Lind." Jenny Lind was a very famous singer at that time. Later that year, Marie went to Paris to study music even more.

Meeting Music Legends

While touring in Europe, Marie met many famous composers and musicians. She wrote about these exciting meetings in her memoir. She said she met important artists like Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, and Robert Schumann.

Marie also attended the very first performances of two famous operas. These were Tannhäuser and Lohengrin. The great master Richard Wagner himself directed them. Marie even mentioned that Wagner "took the baton" to conduct.

Marie's own composition, Souvernir de la Saxe, was dedicated to the Queen of Saxony. This shows how respected she was in Europe.

Life in Paris

In 1850, Marie married Eduard Schuman LeClercq. He was a literature professor. Marie moved with her husband to Paris, France. After her marriage, she stopped her performing career. She and Eduard had five children together.

Marie Regina Siegling passed away on January 2, 1920, in Nice, France.

Marie Siegling's Works

Marie Siegling created both literary and musical works.

Literary:

• Memoirs of a Dowager: This was her memoir, published on December 20, 1908. She wrote it under the name Mary Regina Schuman Le Clercq. A memoir is like a personal story of someone's life.

Musical compositions:

• La capricieuse
• La gracieuse
• Souvenir de Charleston, valse originale (This means "Memory of Charleston, original waltz")
• Souvenir de la Saxe
• Souvenir de la Saxe, valse (This means "Memory of Saxony, waltz")
• The Recall: Come back oh Come! (This piece was for voice and piano)