Sharon Krebs: Married to a Rebel: Two Women Composers’ Responses to the Revolution of 1848

Whereas a considerable body of work exists on literary responses to Europe’s 1848 revolution, investigations of the musical responses to 1848 are scarce, particularly of those of women composers. This paper examines two women composers’ songs relating to the revolution: Johanna Kinkel and Josephine Lang. Both composers were married to men who were involved and invested in the revolution of 1848, and both composers’ revolutionary songs include settings of their husband’s poetry. But in spite of these similarities, there are important differences in their musical responses to the revolution. Kinkel’s responses were public—she published more revolutionary music than any other woman—whereas Lang’s were private, existing only in manuscript. Furthermore, Kinkel’s political activities grew out of a profound understanding of the issues at stake and a lifelong commitment to them, whereas Lang was more of a musical version of a Tagespoet – someone caught up in the whirlwind events of the revolution and responding to them as they happened, but demonstrating neither a true grasp of the issues nor an ongoing commitment to revolutionary ideals. Samples of the political songs of both composers will be examined with regard to the motivations for their composition as well as their performance history. Among the songs to be discussed are Lang’s “Flieg auf, o deutscher Adler” for male chorus and Kinkel’s children’s song “Von der Bürgerwache.”

Sharon Krebs, an independent scholar and soprano, holds degrees in human physiology and Germanic Studies. She has published articles on the 19th century composer Josephine Lang, and has co-authored (with Harald Krebs) the monograph Josephine Lang: Her Life and Songs (Oxford University Press, 2007). The volume includes the authors’ recordings of 30 of Lang’s Lieder. Sharon’s conference presentations have explored issues surrounding Lang’s renown and reputation, and the role of Lang’s children in furthering their mother’s musical legacy. A further research interest probes the nightingale metaphor in the 19th century, drawing parallels between depictions of nightingales in German literature and the performance aesthetics of 19th-century Lied singers. Sharon has also published on Adelbert Chamisso’s poetic cycles with a feminine voice (Frauen-Liebe und -Leben and Thränen) and on composers’ responses to those cycles.

Sharon Krebs: Married to a Rebel: Two Women Composers’ Responses to the Revolution of 1848

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