Marie Regina Siegling (February 7, 1824 – January 2, 1920) was an American composer. She was born in

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

, the eldest daughter of Prussian immigrant Johann Zacharias Siegling and his wife Mary Schnierle. Johann Siegling was an instrument maker and music publisher who founded the Siegling Music House in 1819. Marie Siegling most likely began her musical studies under her mother. Siegling was later educated in Europe and had a career as a musician and composer. In 1844 she traveled with her father to

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

where he had a music store called Siegling & Vallote. They stayed in

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

for three months, where she performed as "Charleston's

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...

." Later in the year, Siegling went to Paris to study music. While on tour in Europe, she met literature professor Eduard Schuman LeClercq, whom she married in 1850. Siegling moved with her husband to Paris and ended her performing career. She had five children. While in Europe, Marie had contact with many of its greatest composers and musicians. She writes in her memoir: "I met many distinguished artists and authors, amongst them Wagner, Schröder-Devrient, Liszt, Schumann. Here also I was present at the first representation of

Tannhäuser Tannhäuser (; gmh, Tanhûser), often stylized, "The Tannhäuser," was a German Minnesinger and traveling poet. Historically, his biography, including the dates he lived, is obscure beyond the poetry, which suggests he lived between 1245 and 1 ...

and Lohengrin, directed by the great Master

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

, who took the baton." Her own composition, ''Souvernir de la Saxe'', is dedicated to Her Majesty, Marie, Reine de Saxe. Siegling published a memoir titled ''Memoirs of a Dowager'' in 1908 under the name Mary Regina Schuman LeClercq. Her youngest brother was Rudolph Septimus Siegling a Confederate officer and later a prominent lawyer in Charleston. Papers related to the family are housed at the University of South Carolina. She died on January 2, 1920, in

Nice Nice ( , ; Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative c ...

, France.

Works

Selected works include: Literary: *''Memoirs of a Dowager'' : 20 December 1908 as Mary Regina Schuman Le Clercq. Musical compositions:List of Works
/ref> *''La capricieuse'' *''La gracieuse'' *''Souvenir de Charleston, valse originale'' *''Souvenir de la Saxe'' *''Souvenir de la Saxe, valse'' *''The Recall: Come back oh Come!'' for voice and piano

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Siegling, Marie 1824 births 1919 deaths 19th-century classical composers 20th-century classical composers American women classical composers American classical composers Musicians from Charleston, South Carolina 19th-century American composers 20th-century American women musicians 20th-century American composers 20th-century women composers 19th-century women composers 19th-century American women musicians