Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (August 20 1613 – July 12 1676) was a German poet and composer. She began studying music at the court of her father, Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, where there was an orchestra known for its use of fine English musicians, such as William Brade. She moved to the court of Kassel, which also had strong music, when the Thirty Years War threatened her court in 1628. In 1635 she married the learned Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.Walter]

Sophie Elisabeth was charged with organizing the court orchestra, and at times worked closely with Heinrich Schütz, who was appointed "absentes" Kapellmeister in 1655. She may have collaborated with him on arias in his "Theatralische neue Vorstellung von der Maria Magdalena".

Most of Sophie Elisabeth's compositions are hymns or devotional arias. Some of these were published in 1651 and 1667. The one printed in 1651, "Vinetum evangelicum, Evangelischer Weinberg", is believed to have been the first music published by a woman in Germany. [Tick] She also played a major role in establishing large court entertainments, including masquerades, plays, and ballets, to which she at times wrote librettos and music. Her additional involvement in these entertainments is unclear. Two of her dramatic works survive: "Friedens Sieg" (1642, Brunswick) and "Glückwünschende Freudensdarstellung" (Lüneburg, 1652).

References

*GroveOnline|Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg|Horst Walter|July 15|2007 (similar text in Grove Opera article by same author)
*GroveOnline|Women in music, §II: Western classical traditions in Europe & the USA 3. 1500–1800.|Judith Tick|July 14|2007

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