Emilie Mayer (1812–1883) was a pioneering German composer whose work represents a significant contribution to 19th-century classical music, particularly in regards to orchestral and chamber genres. Born on May 14, 1812, in Friedland, Mecklenburg-Strelitz (now part of modern-day Germany), Mayer began her serious musical education later in life after the death of her father. She went on to study with noted musicians such as Carl Loewe and Adolph Bernhard Marx, honing her compositional skills in a musical era dominated by men.

Mayer's musical output was prolific and diverse, encompassing a wide range of compositions including eight symphonies, numerous chamber works, piano pieces, and overtures. Her music was widely performed in her lifetime, and she achieved considerable acclaim, earning the nickname "the female Beethoven." After her death in 1883 in Berlin, her music fell into obscurity, but recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in her work, leading to new recordings and performances. These recent releases, such as the "Piano Concerto in B-Flat Major & Overtures," the "String Quartets Vol. 1,” and her symphonies, are helping to reintroduce Mayer’s compositions to modern audiences, allowing her talent to be appreciated in the context of classical music history once again.

Genres

German Romanticism

Late Romantic Era

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Latest Release

Emilie Mayer: Three Violin Sonatas

Emilie Mayer

Album - 12 Tracks - Released July 23, 2024