Amanda Maier - Sonata in B Minor, I. Allegro

Lori Kesner - Flute
Tomoko Kanamaru - Piano
Recorded in the Linehan Concert Hall at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, June 2024
One of Sweden's pioneering female composers, Amanda Maier (1853-1894) composed the Sonata in B Minor in December 1873 when she was just 20 years old. This sonata showcases the remarkable talent of a young musician on the cusp of a brilliant career.
Maier's exceptional musical journey began early when she was accepted into the Royal College of Music in Stockholm at the age of sixteen. She went on to break barriers as the first woman to earn the title of Musikdirektor from the same institution. After further studies in Leipzig under Carl Reinecke and Engelbert Röntgen, she thrived as a published composer and concert violinist in the 1870s, performing her own violin concerto and other compositions. Despite facing health challenges that ultimately cut her life short, Maier left an indelible mark on the musical world. She rubbed shoulders with luminaries like Grieg, Brahms, and Clara Schumann, and her Amsterdam home became a cultural hub of its time.
Though once nearly forgotten, Maier's work is experiencing a well-deserved revival. This flute adaptation of the first movement offers a fresh perspective on her Violin Sonata, allowing listeners to appreciate its lyrical beauty and passionate energy through a new instrumental voice.
LK