Elisabeth Sophie of Mecklenburg
Born	( 1613-08-20 ) 20 August 1613 Gustrow
Died	12 July 1676 (1676-07-12) (aged 62)
Noble family	House of Mecklenburg
Spouse(s)	Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel
Issue	Ferdinand Albert I Marie Elisabeth
Father	John Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg
Mother	Margaret Elisabeth of Mecklenburg

Elisabeth Sophie of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Brunswick-Luneburg (20 August 1613 ? 12 July 1676) was a German poet, composer and impresario .

Life [ edit ]

She began studying music at the court of her father, Duke John Albert II of Mecklenburg-Gustrow , where was an orchestra known for its use of fine English musicians, such as William Brade . ^[1] She moved to the court of Kassel , which also had a strong musical tradition, when the Thirty Years War threatened her court in 1628. In 1635, she married the learned Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg ^[1] with whom she had two children:

• Ferdinand Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg
• Marie Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel

Elisabeth Sophie was charged with organizing the court orchestra, and at times worked closely with Heinrich Schutz , who was appointed absentes Kapellmeister in 1655. She may have collaborated with him on arias in his Theatralische neue Vorstellung von der Maria Magdalena . ^[1]

Most of Elisabeth Sophie '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. ^[2] 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 Gluckwunschende Freudensdarstellung ( Luneburg , 1652). ^[1]

Sibylle Ursula von Braunschweig-Luneburg was her stepdaughter. ^[3]

Footnotes [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

• Walter, Horst (2001). "Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Luneburg". In Sadie, Stanley ; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers . ISBN   978-1-56159-239-5 . ? (similar text in Grove Opera article by same author)
• Tick, Judith (2001). "Women in music, §II: Western classical traditions in Europe & the USA 3. 1500?1800.". In Sadie, Stanley ; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers . ISBN   978-1-56159-239-5 . ?