Maria Elisabeth, Countess of Schlick (German: Maria Elisabeth, Gräfin von Schlick zu Bassano und Weißkirchen, Czech: Marie Alžběta Šliková; 21 January 1790 – 14 December 1855) was a Bohemian-born German composer and poet. She composed music for lieder[1] and also wrote poetry that other composers set to music. She published under the name Countess Elise Schlick or Gräfin Elise Schlick.[2] Although Schlick is often described as German,[3][4] some sources list her birthplace as Prague and her birth year as 1792.[5]
Little is known about Schlick’s early life or education. She was the sister-in-law of Count Franz zu Bassano und Weisskirchen, an Austrian general who helped suppress the Hungarian uprising in 1849. She was described as a patroness of Franz Liszt in Prague.[6]
Schlick produced compositions through at least opus 5.[7] Her musical compositions were published by Franz Gloggl and C. A. Spina in Vienna; August Cranz in Hamburg; and Schott in Mainz.[5] Her musical compositions and poetry included: