Caroline Wiseneder
Caroline Schneider Wiseneder was a German composer and music educator who developed a musical notation system for the blind, as well as a kindergarten music curriculum. She was born in Braunschweig, and married an opera singer named Wiseneder. She founded several singing societies, in addition to the Wiseneder Music School for the Blind in 1860, which became the model for several schools throughout Germany. Her method for teaching instrumental music to young children was adopted by the national kindergarten movement established in Germany about 1873. Among other teaching tools, Caroline used toy orchestra instruments which were carefully tuned to harmonize together. She believed that children should always be accompanied by an instrument when they sang. After her death, a marble bust of Caroline was placed in the Braunschweig town library in honor of her achievements.
Caroline composed many melodramas, songs, and educational works, including:
Books
- Selection of Songs and Games from the Kindergarten of the Music Education School in Braunschweig, with an Appendix for the Elementary Class
- Song and Movement Games
Opera
- Das Jubelfest, oder Die drei Gefangenen, 1849
- Die Palastdame, 1848
- La Dame de Paris
Vocal
- Abschied, opus 9
- Die Kraft der Erinnerungen, opus 8
- Es Sitzt eine Jungfrau gefangen, opus 16
- Four Lieder, opus 13
- Four Lieder, opus 15
- Frühling Frühling wie bist du schön
- Ich kann's nicht fassen, nicht glauben
- Lebewohl an Maria, opus 10
- Six Lieder, opus 12
- Two Poems, opus 11