Great Composers Note Reading Worksheet

The Great Composers note reading worksheet this week teaches about Maria Theresa von Paradis. Maria Theresa von Paradis was both a composer and performer in a time when women were not encouraged to do either. She performed, composed, and taught.

Maria Theresa von Paradis: Education

Maria Theresa von Paradis’ parents named after Empress Maria Theresa, the empress of Austria. Her father worked as the Imperial Secretary of Commerce and Court Councilor. Maria Theresa von Paradis began to lose her eyesight at age 2. And she was completely blind by age 5. Paradis studied composition, keyboard and music theory with Vienna’s best teachers. Her composition teacher Antonio Salleri taught students who became famous. His students include Beethoven, Liszt, and Schumann. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart trusted Salleri to teach his son.

Maria Theresa von Paradis: Works

Maria Theresa von Paradis composed operas, cantatas, piano concertos, and a few other works. She composed a violin piece, Sicilienne. But some wonder if the man who “discovered” the work is the true composer. But Paradis is still listed as the composer Sicilienne

This piece gained the world’s attention in 2018 when an Sicilienne was arranged for cello. Rising star Sheku Kanneh-Mason performed Sicilienne at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Interestingly, Kanneh- Mason also played Ave Maria by Franz Schubert. Maria Theresa’s teacher Antonio Salleri taught both Schubert and Paradis composition.

Maria Theresa von Paradis: Performer

Her friends Nannerel Mozart and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart refer to Paradis in their letters. The letters imply that Mozart wrote his Piano Concerto No. 18 for Paradis. She also commissioned Haydn to write a Piano

Concerto for her. Paradis was a great success in Vienna. And she went on a concert tour to Paris and London. Her playing was well received in Paris. But she wasn’t well received in London even though she performed for King George the III and accompanied Prince of Wales. Her London tour fizzled. She experienced failure when her opera ended up closing. Then Paradis turned her attention to teaching and education.

Maria Theresa von Paradis: Educator

But this was a women who didn’t give up easily. She began to focus her efforts on teaching. And she founded a music school in Vienna. She taught music theory, singing, piano and composition to young girls. Maria Theresa also helped to start the first school for the blind in Paris.

All that Paradis accomplished is amazing by todays standards. But it is even more amazing when you consider she was blind. In a time when just being a woman was a huge hurdle, blindness didn’t hinder her either. She persevered. Her courage and resiliency in the face of disability and failures should be emulated. She didn’t give up. Introduce your students to this great composer.

The Great Composers No. 12 Worksheet

This Great Composers Worksheet No. 12 covers the range of the D, A and E string on the violin. The alto clef worksheet covers the range of the C, G, and D string for viola. The answers are the same for both worksheets even though the notes are in different octaves. These worksheets also use a slightly smaller font.