Emilie Zumsteeg

Emilie Zumsteeg (9 December 1796 – 1 August 1857) was a German choral conductor, singer, composer, and pianist.

Biography Zumsteeg was born in Stuttgart (then in the Holy Roman Empire) where she lived for her whole life. She was one of seven children of the composer Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg and his wife Luise Andreä (1760–1837). Her father died when Emilie was just six years old. Her mother then ran a music store, which furthered her daughter's musical interest.

As a child, Zumsteeg took piano lessons with Gottlob Schick (1776–1812) and studied music theory with . She showed a facility at sight-reading. Gifted with a fine alto voice, she soon began singing and performing on the piano at the Stuttgart Museumskonzerte. As an adult she cultivated a circle of talented musicians and leading poets. The literary ties reflected her interest in the lied, which formed the basis of her composition.

In 1830, Zumsteeg founded the first women's choir in Württemberg. As a teacher of voice and piano, she made a living through music lessons and also as a leading member of the Verein für Klassische Kirchenmusik.

She died in Stuttgart at age 60. One song in particular was later used by the Russian Baptist leader Ivan Prokhanov, and became widely known as the "Prisoners' Song". In 1842, she gained national press coverage for her composition Lieder, Op. 6, which received a brief but laudatory notice in the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung

Zumsteeg's work was considered very innovative and creative for her time. The quality of her voice was reflected in the adventurousness of her compositions, sometimes requiring a larger vocal range than usual.

A full evaluation of compositions must await further research into her life and the republication of more of her music.