Mae Doelling Schmidt ''(née'' Mary Metzke; 22 May 1888

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

– 11 March 1965 Chicago) was an American virtuoso pianist, composer,

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, and music educator from Chicago. She was on the faculty of the American Conservatory of Music.

Early life

Mae Doelling Schmidt, born Mary Metzke, was the youngest of four girls born to Julius ''(aka'' August) Metzke ''(surname also spelled'' Mätzke; 1847–1907) and Marie J. Schwechert ''(maiden;'' 1854–1892), both German immigrants from

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

who married in Chicago on August 28, 1878. Mae's mother died when she was years old.

Adoptee parents

Separated from her sisters when she was a toddler, Mae, when she was five, was adopted by German-born Chicagoans, Paul Wilhelm Doelling (1846-1909) and Ida B. Doelling ''(née'' Ida B. Wolff; 1852–1911) – who both immigrated to the United States in 1882. He was a

cigar maker A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be Tobacco smoking, smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the fill ...

.1900 US Census: referencing "Paul W. Dolling" ''(sic.)'' and "Ida B. Dolling" residing at 1623 Melrose Street, Chicago Paul and Ida Doelling also adopted Paula Hoffman in 1891."Record of the Courts – County: New Suits"

"Decrees 9,287 – In re Paul Wilhelm Doelling and wife to adopt Paula Hoffman; dec ee ofadoption and change of name "

'' Daily Inter Ocean,'' May 19, 1891, p. 12, col. 4 (of 7) (accessible ''via'' )

Formal education

At the age of 9 Doelling began studying in the Children's Department of the American Conservatory of Music, where at age 10 she earned a Silver Medal, and at age 12 a gold medal. At age 14, she entered the Royal Conservatory of Music at Dresden where she studied with

Laura Rappoldi Laura Rappoldi (14 January 1853 – 2 August 1925) was an Austrian-German pianist. Life Born in Mistelbach, Laura Kahrer, daughter of a civil servant, received music lessons at an early age and piano lessons from the age of ten. Already at the ...

''(née'' Laura Kahrer; 1853–1925), a former student of Liszt,

Adolf von Henselt Georg Martin Adolf von Henselt (9 or 12 May 181410 October 1889) was a German composer and virtuoso pianist. Life Henselt was born at Schwabach, in Bavaria. At the age of three he began to learn the violin, and at five the piano under Josephe vo ...

, and Hans von Bülow. Doelling earned a First Prize diploma there, at age 16. In the summer of 1918, Doelling participated in master classes held by Leopold Godowsky in Los Angeles. In 1904, while studying in Berlin, Dölling competed and won a Mendelssohn Prize in piano (one of four winning pianists). The prize included a stipend of 200 Deutsche Marks (equivalent to about euros in ).

Career

Mae Doelling played piano in concerts and recitals, notably as a soloist with the

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, the

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, and the Milwaukee Symphony. She was a member of the Zukovsky Trio, with Alexander Zukovsky (1880–1942) (violin) and Theodore du Moulin (1888–1978) (cello). A 1922 report described Doelling as "forceful when necessary", but adding that "she relies on brains rather than physical strength to bring out the beauties of the music." She often included her own compositions in her programs. Her piano compositions included "Two Studies" (1922), "Venetienne" (1939), "Swiss Music Box" (1939), "Romance" (1939), "Tarantella for 2 solo pianos." Mae Doelling Schmidt taught piano at the American Conservatory of Music. One of her piano students, Mae Willems ''(née'' Mary J. Willems; 1902–1967), who was blind, went on to become a celebrated pianist, singer, and music educator in Chicago. Doelling also gave presentations on the music of China and Latin America, to children and community groups. She was an officer in the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, and represented Chicago at a meeting of the National Federation of Music Clubs.

Selected performances

At age 14 Doelling played before the last King of Saxony, Frederick Augustus III, at the Taschenbergpalais. She also performed for

Princess Louise of Belgium Princess Louise Marie Amélie of Belgium (18 February 1858 – 1 March 1924) was the eldest child and daughter of King Leopold II and Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium. She was a member of the House of Wettin in the branch of Saxe-Coburg and G ...

and other royal audiences. On November 29 1934 Doelling performed the American premier of

Max Trapp Hermann Emil Alfred Max Trapp (November 1, 1887 – May 31, 1971) was a German composer and teacher. A prestigious figure in the Berlin cultural scene during the 1930s, Trapp, amongst others in the Nazi influenced scene, was regularly invited t ...

's ''Concerto for Pianoforte in D Major,'' Op. 26, with the

Chicago Symphony The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...

in the Auditorium Theatre, Frederick Stock conducting. Schmidt actually performed the concerto earlier, on March 3 1934, for a private event hosted by

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Fred Reuel Jones, PhD (1884–1956), and wife, Edith Jones ''(née'' Edith Katharine Seymour; 1896–1984), at the College Club in

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, for 75 guests that included her sister, Mrs. Chester Barlow ''(née'' Louise Theadora Metzke; 1885–1976) – the second youngest of the four. The College Club at 12 East Gilman Street was the Madison branch of the

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Personal life

On July 4 1922 Mae Doelling married musician Richard Walter Schmidt (1888–1945) in Chicago at her residence at Pine Lodge, 3616 Pine Grove Avenue in the Norwood Park neighborhood. She died March 11, 1965 – age – at the Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago. She was buried four days later at Arcadia Park Cemetery, Near Norwood Park. She was a widow when she died.

Extant compositions

Music

* "Romance" : Mae Doelling Schmidt (composer) : Clayton F. Summy Co. (publisher) : © 8 December 1939; EP81427 :: Renewed 10 August 1967; R415302 ::

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(E) : * "Venetienne" : Mae Doelling Schmidt (composer) : Clayton F. Summy Co. (publisher) : © 8 December 1939; EP81428 :: Renewed 10 August 1967; R415301 ::

(E) : * "Swiss Music Box" : Mae Doelling Schmidt (composer) : Clayton F. Summy Co. (publisher) : © 23 September 1940; EP87886 :: Renewed 11 December 1967; R424412 ::

(E) * "Native Hoosier" : ''aka'' "Hoosier, Who's Your Father?, Who's Your Mother, Hoooo Hoosier?" : Mae Doelling Schmidt (composer) : Grace Patterson López-Díaz (words) : Clayton F. Summy Co. (publisher) : © 2 October 1940; EP88143 : * "Tarantella," for 2 Solo pianos : Mae Doelling Schmidt (music) : * "Exaltation" : Mae Doelling Schmidt (composer) : Josephine Hancock Logan (words) : Carl Fischer, Inc. (publisher) : © 23 June 1944; EP123745 * "Make Way, Here Comes the U.S.A." (song) : Mae Doelling Schmidt (music) : © 14 January 1943; EU320670

Dramatic works

* ''George and Sally Applecore's Adventures in Latin America'' : A dramatic composition with incidental music : Mae Doelling Schmidt : © 2 February 1948; DU12676 * ''Ye Olde Reliable, Tired and True, We Won't Do You, Booking Agency'' : A skit with incidental music : Mae Doelling Schmidt : © 15 March 1948; DU13463 * ''The Enchanted Garden in Gnomerville'' : A narrative: rhymed story and music : Mae Doelling Schmidt : © 6 November 1953; C7468

Copyright abbreviations: : EP = Class E (musical compositions, published in the United States) : EU = Class E (musical compositions, unpublished) : DU = Class D (dramatic and dramatical-musical works, unpublished in the United States) : C = Lectures and other works prepared for oral delivery : R = Copyright renewal : (E) = Executor of the author

Copyrights

Original copyrights (music)

: ''

Catalog of Copyright Entries United States copyright registrations, renewals, and other catalog entries since 1978 are published online at the United States Copyright Office website. Entries prior to 1978 are not published in the online catalog. Copyright registrations and rene ...

, Part 3, Musical Compositions, New Series'',

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, Copyright Office

Original copyrights (drama and theater)

: ''

, Parts 3 & 4, Dramas and Works Prepared for Oral Delivery, New Series'',

, Copyright Office

Copyright renewals

: ''

, Part 3, Musical Compositions, Third Series'',

, Copyright Office

Notes and references

Notes

References

External links

* * Photo: Exterior of Mr. and Mrs. Paul William Doelling's residence at 737 West Melrose Street, Chicago ( Lake View, East neighborhood);

Conrad Sulzer Regional Library Conrad Sulzer Regional Library is one of two regional libraries in the Chicago Public Library system in Chicago, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It was named for Conrad Sulzer, the first white settler in what became Lakeview Township, whose family ...

: Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection (re: Ravenswood, Lake View)

Notes written on back: "Mr. and Mrs. Doelling, Mr. Utesch, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Dogs – Nellie and Fanny" ();

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Mae Doelling 1888 births 1965 deaths 20th-century American women pianists 20th-century American pianists American composers American Conservatory of Music alumni Women in classical music Classical accompanists Classical musicians from Illinois American adoptees