Born in Friedland, Mecklenburg, May 14, 1812
Died in Berlin, April 10, 1883
- Mayer studied composition with Carl Loewe and Adolf Bernhard Marx.
- Mayer composed works in most of the major genres of her day, including songs, chamber music, symphonies, sonatas, and a Singspiel.
- Mayer was the “most prolific German woman composer of the Romantic period” (Grove Music Online), and during her lifetime her music was performed in Brussels, Budapest, Leipzig, Munich, and many other European cities. Mayer also promoted her work through home concerts, as many middle-class women composers did in Europe in the 19th century.
- Mayer was also a professional sculptor.1
Biographical sketch from Furore
Sources
- Eva Rieger, “Mayer, Emilie,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed February 24, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000047439.