Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894)

06/07/24 • 63 min

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’s 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’s 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 Röntgen, 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 sång (“Song of a sick girl”) Carl Reinecke: Symphony No 2 “Hakon Jarl” (1st mvt) Piano Trio in E flat major (3rd and 4th mvts) Aftonklockan (“The Evening Clock”) Violin Sonata in B minor (1st mvt) Julius Röntgen: Serenade for Wind No 1, Op 14 (1st mvt) Piano Trio in E flat major (2nd mvt) Violin Concerto in D minor Sången (“Song”) Nine Pieces for violin and piano Piano Trio in E flat major (1st mvt) Karol Lipinski: Violin Concerto No 2 “Militaire” (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 (Zwiegespräche) Piano Quartet in E minor (1st and 2nd mvts) Brahms: Violin Sonata No 3 (1st mvt) Zwiegespräche (excerpts) Piano Quartet in E minor (3rd and 4th mvts)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Steven Rajam for BBC 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-Röntgen (1853-1894) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001zmwn

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

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

Music Featured:

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

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

Previous Episode

Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Donald Macleod surveys the life and music of Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

This week, Donald Macleod traverses the dramatic and vivid musical landscapes of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: a vital, fascinating, and perhaps under-appreciated figure in the evolution of the canon of western art music. His life alone was extraordinary: beginning as a cadet in the Tsar’s navy, it ended soon after the tumult of the 1905 revolution; the prospect of far greater upheaval, national and international, looming.

Music Featured:

Flight of the Bumblebee The Tsar of Sultan Suite, Op 57 (3rd mvt, The Three Wonders) Symphony No 1, Op 1 Capriccio Espangnol, Op 34 (excerpts) The Maid of Pskov: Overture Mussorgsky arr. Rimsky-Korsakov: Night on the Bare Mountain Legend of Sadko, Op 5 Quintet Scheherazade, Op 35 (excerpt) The Golden Cloud Slept, Op 3, No 3 Trombone Concerto in B flat major Symphony No 3, Op 32 (3rd & 4th mvts) The Tatar Captivity, Op 18, No 2 The Octave, Op 45, No 3 Mussorgsky arr. Rimsky-Korsakov: Gopak from Sorochintsi Fair Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op 36 String Quartet in F major, Op 12 (3rd mvt) Mlada Suite The Snow Maiden: Prologue; Dance of the birds Against the Cruel Crag from Sadko The Invisible City of Kitzeh Suite (A Hymn to Nature) The Golden Cockerel Suite Four Songs, Op 2 (No 2, The Nightingale and the Rose)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Lyndon Jones for BBC 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 Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z5dz

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

Next Episode

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Orlando Gibbons

Orlando Gibbons’s life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England’s most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons.

Music Featured:

The Silver Swan O clap your hands Out of the Deep A Fancy (for Double Organ) Behold, thou hast made my days We praise thee, O Father What Is Our life? I am the resurrection Hosanna to the Son of David How art thou thralled Farewell all joys Now each flowery bank of May Great King of Gods Pavan a 6 Pavan and galliard Lord Salisbury Fantasies in Three Parts Compos’d for Viols (No 6, No 8, No 9) This is the Record of John Fantasia No 10 in C Major Ne’er let the Sun Yet if that age Trust not too much fair youth Lift Up Your Heads Fantasia No 1 for Two Trebles Nay let me weep William Byrd: Fair Britain Isle Fantazia of Four Parts O God, the king of glory In Nomine for 5 Viols Fantasia No 2 for 3 Viols Glorious and Powerful God See, see the word is incarnate O Lord, in thy wrath Drop, drop, slow tears (arr. P. Dearmer) Do not repine, fair sun – Parts I and II Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints O all true faithful hearts Fantasia a 3 with Double Bass Viol Fantasia for 6 Viols Go from my Window Almighty and everlasting God Magnificat (Short Service) Great Lord of Lords Fantasia No 1 for the Great Double Bass Fantasia No 2 a 6 The Hunt's Up (Peascod time) The Second Service (Morning): Te Deum Fantasia No 4 a 6 The Cryes of London I & II Blessed are all they that fear the Lord

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC 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 Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001zvhm And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z