Philippine Schick (Ida Philippine Eleanor Rosa Schick; 9 February 1893 – 13 January 1970), also known by her married name Philippine von Waltershausen, was a German composer, pianist, conductor, and university lecturer. She was among the few female composers whose works were performed in Germany during the Nazi era.
Early life and education
Born in Bonn, Germany, Schick was the daughter of the linguist and university professor Josef Schick (1859–1944) and his English wife Mary Butcher. The family moved to Munich in 1897. In her adolescence she wrote short stories, a play, and composed lieder and piano pieces. After completing secondary school, she pursued private studies in classical languages and, from 1910, Chinese hieroglyphics.
In 1914 Schick entered the Munich Conservatory, studying piano under Friedrich Klose and composition under Hermann Zilcher. She completed her composition studies in 1918.
Personal life
In 1927 she married the composer Hermann Wolfgang von Waltershausen, with whom she had a daughter, Lore. The marriage ended in divorce in 1932, after which Schick continued her musical career.
Professional career
From 1918 to 1936 Schick composed more than thirty works, encompassing lieder, chamber music, choral pieces, and a piano concerto. Her compositions were performed publicly, including during the National Socialist period—a rarity for women composers of the time.
Schick held a teaching position at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, where she lectured on music theory and composition. She remained active in Munich’s musical circles until her death.
Selected works
- Piano Concerto (date unspecified)
- Various Lieder (songs) for voice and piano
- Chamber music including sonatas and string quartets
- Choral works for mixed choirs
(Comprehensive catalogues of her output are limited; many works remain unpublished.)
Death and legacy
Philippine Schick died on 13 January 1970 in Munich. While her music has not entered the standard repertoire, she is recognized in scholarly references such as the Munzinger biographical archive and the Große Bayerische Biographische Enzyklopädie. Her career exemplifies the challenges and achievements of early‑20th‑century German women composers.
References
- Munzinger Biographical Archive entry on Philippine Schick.
- Hans‑Michael Körner, Große Bayerische Biographische Enzyklopädie (2005).
- LMU (Ludwig‑Maximilians‑Universität München) database on composers.
Note: Information is drawn from established encyclopedic sources; where details are scarce, the entry reflects the limits of currently available documentation.