Amanda Röntgen-Maier, born Carolina Amanda Erika Maier on February 20, 1853, in Landskrona, Sweden, was a pioneering violinist and composer during the 19th century. She was the daughter of Carl Eduard Maier, a musician and confectioner, and Elisabeth Sjöbeck. Amanda received her early musical education from her father before enrolling at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1869, where she excelled and became the first woman to earn the title of music director in Sweden in 1872.
After completing her studies in Stockholm, Maier continued her education in Leipzig from 1873 to 1876, studying under prominent figures such as Engelbert Röntgen, Carl Reinecke, and Ernst Friedrich Richter. During this time, she developed a close friendship with composer Edvard Grieg and performed her compositions, including a violin concerto, with the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Maier toured extensively across Scandinavia, Russia, and Germany, often collaborating with soprano Louise Pyk and pianist Augusta Kjellander. Her performances were well-received, and she was noted for her virtuosic skill and compositions, which included a trio for piano, violin, and cello, and several chamber works.
In 1880, Amanda married Julius Röntgen, a Dutch pianist and composer, and subsequently shifted her focus from public performances to family life. The couple had two sons, Julius Jr. and Engelbert. Although her public career as a violinist ended, she continued to compose and host renowned musicians in their home, including Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann. Amanda’s health began to decline in the late 1880s, likely due to tuberculosis. Despite her illness, she remained active in music, teaching her sons and composing works such as her Piano Quartet in E minor, completed shortly before her death.
Amanda Röntgen-Maier passed away on June 15, 1894, in Amsterdam at the age of 41. Her contributions to music were largely overlooked until the late 20th century when efforts to rediscover her work began. Today, she is recognized not only for her talent as a violinist but also for her significant compositions, which reflect the influences of Brahms and Grieg. Her music is gradually gaining recognition, and her legacy as a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated field continues to inspire