Anna Amalia Prussia Princess Abbess of Quedlinburg, Princess of Prussia Date of Birth: 09.11.1723 Country: Germany

1. Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg, Princess of Prussia
2. A Love for Music
3. Lessons from her Brother
4. A Secret Marriage
5. Abbess of Quedlinburg
6. A Legacy in Music

Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg, Princess of Prussia

Anna Amalia of Prussia, also known as Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg and Princess of Prussia, was born in Berlin. She was one of the ten surviving children of Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. Anna Amalia was eleven years younger than her brother, future Frederick II.

A Love for Music

Anna Amalia and her brother Frederick shared a deep love for music. Unfortunately, Anna could only begin her musical studies properly after her father's death, as he had no appreciation for music. For a long time, music provided the princess with solace from the cruelty of the world around her. Most of her childhood traumas were caused by her father, who was known for his extreme aggression and would often drag her around the room by her hair in fits of anger.

Lessons from her Brother

Her brother Frederick, inspired by their cultured mother, provided Anna with her first music lessons. She learned to play the violin, flute, and harp. At one point, Anna was considered a potential bride for the Crown Prince of Sweden, along with her sister Louisa Ulrika. However, Frederick knew that Louisa was too ambitious to be a suitable queen for a country like Sweden, whose monarchs had limited power. Louisa was known for her arrogance, temper, and deceit, and the family knew better than to trust her.

A Secret Marriage

In 1743, Anna secretly married Baron Friedrich von der Trenck, a man whose adventurous escapades had inspired great writers like Victor Hugo and Voltaire. When her brother Frederick, who ascended to the throne in 1740, discovered the marriage, he was furious, especially since Anna was already pregnant. The princess was sent to Quedlinburg Abbey, where many Prussian aristocrats were sent to give birth to illegitimate children. The marriage was annulled, and von der Trenck was imprisoned for ten years. Interestingly, despite everything, Anna continued to correspond with her beloved until her death.

Abbess of Quedlinburg

In 1755, Anna became the Abbess of Quedlinburg, a position that significantly improved her financial situation. She spent most of her free time in Berlin, where she continued her passion for music and became a respected composer and philanthropist. As a composer, Anna gained recognition mainly for her chamber works, including trios, marches, cantatas, songs, and fugues. In 1758, she began studying music theory and composition more actively, with Johann Philipp Kirnberger, a student of Johann Sebastian Bach, as her mentor.

A Legacy in Music

Only a few of Anna's compositions have survived to this day. It is believed that she destroyed much of her own music, as she was quite critical of her own work. However, her collection of ancient music, which included works by Bach, George Frideric Handel, and other renowned musicians, has been preserved and is highly valued.