Meta Schumann

Meta Fust Willoughby (1887 - 3 October 1937) was an American composer, pianist, and singer who performed and published under the name Meta Schumann.^[1][2]

Schumann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota.^[3] Her first teacher was her father,^[1] the choral conductor and singer William Fust. Her brother, Carl J. Fust, was a violinist with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.^[4] Schumann married Clarence Willoughby and they had one son, William.^[2]

Schumann studied music with C. C. Carman and Carina Mastinelli in Minnesota, and with John B. Acton in London.^[1] She established a studio in New York City during the 1920s,^[5] and toured the U.S. as a singer and accompanist. She accompanied and coached Alma Beck, Henrietta Conrad, Edith Hallett Frank, Elena Gerhardt, Dusolina Giannini, Frieda Klink, Norman Jollif, Jane Laval, Eleanor Patterson, George Reimherr, Ottilie Schillig, William Simmons, Cornelius van Vliet, Frederic Warren, and Olga Warren.^{[2][6][7][8][9]}

Schumann belonged to the New York Singing Teachers’ Association^[9] and sang with the Choral Society of the New York City Christian Science Institute.^[10] Her music was published by G. Ricordi & Company^[11] and White, Smith & Company.^[12] Schumann’s compositions, all for voice, include:

• Cloudlets^[13]

• June Pastoral Song^[10]

• Medea^[14]

• Night^[14]

• Recompense (text by Josephine M. Fabricant)^[15]

• Spring^[14]

• Thee (text by Florence Parr Gere)^[15]

• Thou Immortal Night (text by Mina Verne Hammer)^{[16] [17]}

• To a Star in June^[14]

• When Thou Art Night (text by Thomas Moore)^[15]

• Why Not?^[14]

• Winding Lane^[14]

References

1. Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. p. 627. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
2. "META SCHUMANN". The New York Times. 1937-10-04. p. 21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
3. Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.
4. "Star Tribune 04 Oct 1937, page Page 2". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
5. Musical America's Guide: A Digest of the Musical Resources of the United States and Canada. Musical America Company. 1926.
6. Musical Courier and Review of Recorded Music. 1916.
7. Musical Observer. Musical Observer Company. 1920.
8. American Consular Bulletin. The Association. 1924.
9. Musical Courier: A Weekly Journal Devoted to Music and the Music Trades. Musical Courier Company. 1923.
10. Correspondence of Interest to the Members of the Choral Society of the New York City Christian Science Institute: And Letters, Essays, Poems, Etc., on Christian Science as Taught by Mary Baker Eddy. New York city Christian science institute. 1918.
11. Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers : a checklist of works for the solo voice. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-8498-4. OCLC 6815939.
12. The Etude. T. Presser. 1918.
13. Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1920). Catalogue of Title-entries of Books and Other Articles Entered in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, Under the Copyright Law ... Wherein the Copyright Has Been Completed by the Deposit of Two Copies in the Office. U.S. Government Printing Office.
14. Musical America. Music Publications, Limited. 1916.
15. Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1926). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Fourth Series. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
16. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1918.
17. "Meta Schumann Song Texts | LiederNet". www.lieder.net. Retrieved 2023-01-17.