Annette Schenk Thoma (23 January 1886 – 26 November 1974)[1] was a German author,[2] composer,[3] and folklorist who is best remembered for her composition Deutsche Bauernmesse (English: German Farmers’ Mass), a mass in Bavarian adapting folk tunes.[4]
Thoma was born in Neu-Ulm. Her father was Lieutenant (later Major General) Albert Schenk.[5] Thoma studied English and French abroad, then married the painter Emil Thoma and moved to Riedering. There she met and worked with the Bavarian folk musician Paul Kiem in 1930 to record local folk music.[6] She wrote a book and many articles about folk music. Thoma composed the Deutsche Bauernmesse in 1933, and wrote the lyrics for the first Salzburg Advent Singing in 1946.[7]
Thoma received the Bavarian Order of Merit in 1964, and the Bayerischer Poetentaler award in 1974.[8] Her composition Die Kleine Messe (The Little Mass) was recorded on:
In 2020, Thoma's Deutsche Bauernmesse was performed by a choir in St. Martin, Moosach.[9]
Thoma's works were published by Rosenheimer Verlagshaus.[10] Her publications included: