Charlotte Wilhelmina Franziska Brandes (Minna) (21 May 1765 – 13 June 1788) was a German singer, pianist, actress and composer. She was born in Berlin, the daughter of actress Esther Charlotte Brandes and playwright , and toured with her parents in Europe, performing on stage at an early age. She studied music with Hönecke in Weimar and Christoph Transchel in Dresden for piano, Muriottini in Dresden and also

Gertrud Elisabeth Mara Gertrud Elisabeth Mara (née Schmeling) (23 February 1749 – 20 January 1833) was a German operatic soprano. Life She was born in Kassel, the daughter of a poor musician, Johann Schmeling. From him she learnt to play the violin, and while st ...

and Giovanni Carlo Concialini for voice. After completing her studies, Brandes worked as a singer and actress and composed songs and works for piano. She had a three octave range and performed successfully in courts and opera. After 1782 she lived in Hamburg, and died there.

Works

Brandes composed works for piano and Italian and German songs which were edited by Friedrich Hoenicke, Music Director of Beyme Hamburg theater, and published after her death. Her works are published as ''A Musical Legacy.'' Selected compositions include: *''Allegro'' *''Harvest song'', Allegretto *''To the Nightingale'', Lento *''May Song'', Allegretto *''Winter Song'', Andante Moderato *''The dream'', Adagio *''The old farmer and his son'', Andante *''Spring Song'', Andante *''Sigh'', Largo *''Cavatina Larghetto'', for two horns in F, flute, bassoon, two violins, viola, soprano, bass, harpsichord *''Duetto'' for soprano and orchestra *''Largo'' for orchestra

References

1765 births 1788 deaths 18th-century classical composers German women classical composers German classical composers 18th-century German actresses Actresses from the Kingdom of Prussia German stage actresses Actresses from Berlin Musicians from Berlin 18th-century German composers 18th-century women composers {{Germany-composer-stub