Clara Mathilda Faisst

Clara Mathilda Faisst

Clara Mathilda Faisst (22 June 1872 – 22 November 1948) was a German pianist, composer and writer.

Life and career

Faisst was born in Karlsruhe, Baden. She studied music at the Karlsruhe Conservatory and later traveled to Berlin, then in Prussia, to study under the noted pianist Max Bruch (1838 – 1920). After completing her studies, she worked as a pianist, music teacher and composer.^[1]

During World War II, Faisst conducted house concerts. She was a prolific composer, producing over a hundred separate works, including ballads, choral pieces and sonatas for violin and piano.^[2] She corresponded with Albert Schweitzer and the two became good friends.^[3] Faisst never married and died in Karlsruhe at age seventy-six. As she had no family, her possessions were put out as trash, but some of her letters and music were rescued and preserved.^[4]

Works

Selected works include:

• Adagio Consolante (1902)
• Violin Sonata (published 1912)^[5]
• Präludium im gotischen Stil op. 28
• Sieben Lieder aus des Knaben Wunderhorn, op. 10
• Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte (op. 16 and op. 17 together)^[6]

Faisst was the author of the text Hörst du den Ton? (Can You Hear the Note?) published in 1924.^[7]

References