Women of Sound: Maria Szymanowska

Episode Summary

In the episode titled "Women of Sound: Maria Szymanowska" from the Womanica podcast, the focus is on the life and achievements of Maria Szymanowska, a pioneering female musician of the early 19th century. Born in 1789 in Warsaw, Maria Szymanowska was recognized early on for her passion for playing the piano. Despite the limited formal avenues for music training available to women at the time, Maria learned to play the piano through lessons at home and informal sessions with renowned musicians who visited her family. By 1810, she had begun performing publicly in cities like Warsaw and Paris, as well as in private homes, earning her widespread recognition for her talent. Maria Szymanowska was known for her unique approach to performing, notably playing from memory at a time when this was not common practice among pianists. Her repertoire mainly consisted of salon music, characterized by short, elegant pieces designed for intimate settings. Her performances were celebrated for their expressiveness and emotional depth. In addition to her prowess as a performer, Maria was also a composer, with her works being published by leading music publishing houses. Her compositions were infused with the same emotional richness that marked her performances. Following a divorce, Maria took her career to new heights by touring Europe and giving around 100 concerts, including a notable performance in Warsaw for nearly 1,000 people. Her fame reached such heights that she was recognized on the streets of Paris. Among her admirers was the young Frédéric Chopin, who likely drew inspiration from her salon-style music for his own compositions. Maria also captivated the poet Goethe, who dedicated a poem to her. In 1828, Maria Szymanowska settled in St. Petersburg, becoming the court pianist for Russia's Tsarina and dedicating herself to teaching music to young pianists. Her home became a hub for artists of various disciplines to gather and exchange ideas. Maria passed away in 1831 at the age of 41, but her legacy lives on through her music, which continues to convey the deep emotions she was known for. The episode highlights Maria Szymanowska's significant contributions to the world of music and her role as a trailblazer for women in the arts.

Episode Show Notes

Maria Szymanowska (1789-1831) was a virtuoso pianist, one of the first to perform solely from memory. She was known for her short, elegant salon pieces that were full of emotional depth. Her work was most likely an influence for Chopin.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_04: Looking for hair removal tools that not only deliver smooth results, but also empower you with a sense of complete control?Enter Conair Girl Bomb, your secret weapons for smooth, sleek results made just for women.From the ultimate girl bomb grip and professional-grade blades, you don't have to compromise and settle for less. Conair Girl Bomb equips you with the precision and power previously reserved for men's grooming tools.So take your hair removal routine to the next level with Conair Girl Bomb.Available at conairgirlbomb.com or a retailer near you. SPEAKER_01: Hey, everyone.It's Ted from Consumer Cellular, the guy in the orange sweater.And this is your wake-up call.If you're paying too much for wireless service, you don't have to keep having that nightmare.Consumer Cellular has the same fast, reliable coverage as the leading carriers for less.And for a limited time, new customers receive their second month free when they sign up and use promo code MONTHFREE by May 31st.So why keep spending more than you have to?Seriously, wake up and call 1-888-FREEDOM or visit ConsumerCellular.com. SPEAKER_05: Taxes, fees and other third-party charges will apply.See website for additional details.With AT&T in-car Wi-Fi, stay connected wherever you go and transform your vehicle into a dependable Wi-Fi hotspot.Powering applications like real-time GPS and voice assistant, navigation becomes a breeze.Even on the practice field, AT&T in-car Wi-Fi keeps you connected while in proximity of your vehicle.Work, stream shows or finish homework without missing a beat. See if you're eligible for a free trial at att.com slash in-car Wi-Fi.Don't let connectivity be a roadblock in your journey.Always pay careful attention to the road and don't drive distracted.Wi-Fi hotspot intended for passenger use when vehicle is in operation, compatible device and vehicle required. SPEAKER_03: The less your business spends, the more margin you keep.But today, everything costs more. So smart businesses are graduating to NetSuite by Oracle.NetSuite is the number one cloud financial system, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one proven platform, helping you reduce IT costs, maintenance costs, and manual errors.Over 37,000 companies have already made the move to NetSuite.Now through April 15th, NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program.Head to netsuite.com slash stereo right now.netsuite.com slash stereo. SPEAKER_02: Hello.From Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Womanica.This month, we're talking about women of sound.These women dominated the airwaves, innovating documenting and creating the audio landscape we live in today.Today, we're talking about a virtuosa who could coax emotion out from underneath piano keys and might have had an influence on composers like Chopin.Let's talk about Maria Shumanovska, Maria was born in 1789 in Warsaw.Early on, it was clear that Maria loved playing the piano.But it was less clear how to foster her passion.In the late 18th century, there weren't many formal avenues for music training, especially not for women. Maria learned to play piano from teachers who came to her home.She got her first lesson at nine years old and kept studying under various teachers throughout her childhood. Maria's parents would often invite renowned musicians to their house, which gave Maria plenty of chances for informal music lessons, too.By 1810, Maria had started performing.She gave public concerts in cities like Warsaw and Paris.She also performed in many private homes for friends and their guests.Often, those people would write her letters of recommendation, earning her a spot at another piano stool for another performance. When Maria played in front of an audience, she never brought up sheet music to look at.She performed for memory.This is common among performing pianists today, but at the time, it was extremely rare. Maria played a lot of salon music, short, elegant pieces perfect for a small audience in a parlor.She was known for her expressiveness.She had an uncanny ability to make the music feel full of emotion. In addition to performing, Maria was also a composer, and the music she wrote was infused with the same emotional richness.Her compositions were published by leading music publishing houses.A decade after Maria started performing, she went through a divorce.Soon after, she took her professional career to the next level.Maria began crisscrossing Europe, playing her pieces for audiences across the continent. She gave around 100 concerts.At one point, she performed in Warsaw for an audience of nearly 1,000 people. She was dubbed the Charming Almighty of Sound and the Queen of Tones.One Russian newspaper even claimed that Maria was so well-known in Paris that it was hard for her to go anywhere without being recognized.In 1827, a young, up-and-coming musician went to see Maria on stage.His name, Frédéric Chopin. Chopin later became known for his own salon-style music.It's likely that he drew inspiration, in part, from listening to Maria perform.She also had admirers outside of the music world.The poet, Goethe, was so enamored with her, he dedicated one of his poems to her.In 1828, Maria stopped touring and settled down in St.Petersburg. She became the court pianist of Russia's Tsarina and started teaching music to young pianists.Her home became an artistic hub.Pianists, poets, painters, and more would gather to exchange ideas and learn from each other.In 1831, Maria passed away in St.Petersburg after contracting cholera.She was 41 years old. Today, her music lives on.You can still feel the emotions she conjured in the 1800s by playing the notes of her compositions.All month, we're talking about women of sound.For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at Womanica Podcast. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.Talk to you tomorrow. SPEAKER_04: Looking for hair removal tools that not only deliver smooth results, but also empower you with a sense of complete control?Enter Conair Girl Bomb, your secret weapons for smooth, sleek results made just for women.From the ultimate girl bomb grip and professional-grade blades, you don't have to compromise and settle for less. Conair Girlbomb equips you with the precision and power previously reserved for men's grooming tools.So take your hair removal routine to the next level with Conair Girlbomb.Available at conairgirlbomb.com or a retailer near you. SPEAKER_06: Ready?Let's go.Give me a vacation.Give me a golf course.Let's get a water sport.Can I get excursions?Time for chill vibes.How about a garden tour?Give me a dolphin.What's that spell? If you're happy and you know it, San Diego is the place to show it.Book your trip at sandiego.org.Funded in part with the City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds. SPEAKER_07: Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway.Now through April 23rd, head into your local store and check out the great new personal care products.Shop now and discover new arrivals like Secrets Aluminum Free Whole Body Spray, Shea Moisture Deodorant Cream, and Hello Deodorant.Start the season with new and refreshing spring scents.You don't want to miss out on these great new products.Discover what's new in store today.Offer expires April 23rd.Restrictions apply, promotions may vary.Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details. SPEAKER_00: What's up, y'all?Janice Torres here. SPEAKER_07: And I'm Austin Hankowitz. SPEAKER_00: We're the hosts of Mind the Business, Small Business Success Stories, a podcast presented by iHeartRadio's Ruby Studios and Intuit QuickBooks.Join us as we speak with small business owners about the tools they use to turn their ideas into success. SPEAKER_08: From finding that initial spark of entrepreneurship to organizing payments and invoices, we've got you covered.So follow and listen to Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.