Nanette von Schaden

Anna Leopoldine Theresia Elisabetha Nanette von Stadler von Pranck von Schaden (January 1763 – January 1834) was an Austrian composer and pianist who was known for her improvisational skills but left only three written compositions for piano. She published and performed under the names Anna von Schaden and Nanette von Schaden.

Von Schaden’s parents were Salzburg Court War Council Director Leopold Graf Pranck and Walburga Stadler. Because her parents were unmarried, Schaden used the name “von Stadler von Pranck.” In 1774, she moved into the household of Imperial Court Councilor Friedrich von Mauchart. She studied music with Franz Ignaz von Beecke, and in 1779 she married the Wallerstein privy councilor Joseph Wilhelm von Schaden. They had two daughters, Maria Anna Antonia and Josepha Amalia.

The von Schadens moved to the court of Oettingen-Wallerstein, where von Schaden met court musician Antonio Rosetti, who later helped orchestrate her two piano concerti. In 1781 she began receiving an annual pension of 200 guilders for her musical contributions at court, including her 1786 performance of a piano concerto by Beecke.

In 1787, the von Schadens moved when Joseph von Schaden became the Imperial City Council Consultant in Augsburg. In 1789, the musicologist Johann Friedrich Reichardt also visited, and later wrote in a letter, “. . . Ms von Schaden – who is by far the greatest piano player of all the musical women I know, including the Parisians; yes, in skill and security possibly unsurpassed by any virtuoso; she also sings with great expression and performance, and is in every respect a pleasant, interesting woman. . . “ In 1793, the von Schadens divorced, only three remain today, all published by Speier:

Piano Concerto in Bb Major (with Antonio Rosetti)

Piano Concerto in G Major (with Antonio Rosetti)

Rondo in C Major