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Amanda Maier-R枚ntgen (1853-1894)

Donald Macleod & Dr Jennifer Martyn explore the remarkable, tragic story of gifted violinist and composer, Amanda Maier

Donald Macleod & Dr Jennifer Martyn explore the remarkable, tragic story of gifted violinist and composer, Amanda Maier

Amanda Maier was one of the 19th century鈥檚 most brilliant musicians, yet whose story was almost lost to history. Born in the small Swedish town of Landskrona, her virtuoso talent at the violin saw her rise to become one of Europe鈥檚 most in-demand performers: giving private and public concerts of major works by Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Bruch, as well as her own dazzling compositions. Maier was a friend of Grieg, Brahms, Clara Schumann and Ethel Smyth and her music was reviewed in newspapers across Europe. Tragically, ill health would see her pass away at the age of just 41 and her musical legacy slowly forgotten. This week, Donald Macleod is joined by musicologist and violinist Dr Jennifer Martyn to celebrate Amanda Maier's life and work - with performances of all her extant compositions alongside works by key figures in her life, including Edward Grieg, Carl Reinecke and Maier's husband, Julius R枚ntgen, with whom she enjoyed a close and loving relationship in music and in life.

Music Featured:

Violin Sonata in B minor (3rd mvt)
Preludes in E major, G sharp minor, and E flat major
Violin Sonata in B minor (2nd mvt)
Den sjuka flickans s氓ng (鈥淪ong of a sick girl鈥)
Carl Reinecke: Symphony No 2 鈥淗akon Jarl鈥 (1st mvt)
Piano Trio in E flat major (3rd and 4th mvts)
Aftonklockan (鈥淭he Evening Clock鈥)
Violin Sonata in B minor (1st mvt)
Julius R枚ntgen: Serenade for Wind No 1, Op 14 (1st mvt)
Piano Trio in E flat major (2nd mvt)
Violin Concerto in D minor
S氓ngen (鈥淪ong鈥)
Nine Pieces for violin and piano
Piano Trio in E flat major (1st mvt)
Karol Lipinski: Violin Concerto No 2 鈥淢ilitaire鈥 (2nd mvt)
Nacht-mittags Potpourri (St Nicholas-Schwank)
St Nicholas-Schwank (excerpt)
String Quartet in A minor (2nd and 3rd mvts)
Grieg: Sarabande (Holberg Suite)
Swedish Tunes and Dances
Allegretto (Zwiegespr盲che)
Piano Quartet in E minor (1st and 2nd mvts)
Brahms: Violin Sonata No 3 (1st mvt)
Zwiegespr盲che (excerpts)
Piano Quartet in E minor (3rd and 4th mvts)

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Steven Rajam for 91热爆 Audio Wales and West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Amanda Maier-R枚ntgen (1853-1894) /programmes/m001zmwn

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we鈥檝e featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Release date:

Available now

1 hour, 4 minutes

Podcast