Louis Spohr A Critical Biography

The life and works of the once renowned nineteenth-century composer who is now largely overlooked.

Published in Spohr's 200th anniversary year, this book is the first to deal at length with both the life and the works of a composer who exerted a strong influence on the development of nineteenth-century music. Spohr was hailed in his own day as a worthy successor to Mozart and Beethoven, yet in the present century his former renown has gone largely unrecognised. Clive Brown gives an account of Spohr's life and character, and examines the areas in which his impact was most profound. He discusses Spohr's compositions critically and provides a stylistic and aesthetic assessment of his work. The chronological account of Spohr's life unfolds in parallel with the description of his musical output; a final chapter considers the decline of his reputation after his death. This volume will be of interest not only to scholars and students but also to general musical readers. And, since so little of Spohr's very substantial output is available in modern editions and is seldom performed, the book will also prove useful to practical musicians in search of worthwhile music for performance.

Acknowledgements; 1. Early life - 1784–1803; 2. First concert tours - 1803–1805; 3. Konzertmeister in Gotha: marriage - 1805–1808; 4. Virtuoso and composer: spreading reputation - 1808–1813; 5. Vienna - 1813–1816; 6. Italy - 1816–1817; 7. Kapellmeister in Frankfurt - 1817–1820; 8. London, Paris and Dresden - 1820–1822; 9. Hofkapellmeister in Kassel: operatic triumph - 1822–1825; 10. Oratorio and opera: success and failure - 1825–1830; 11. Revolution and bereavement - 1830–1836; 12. Remarriage and returning stability - 1836–1839; 13. Renewed ties with England - 1839–1842; 14. 'The great Spohr - the immortal while yet living' - 1841–1843; 15. An operatic finale - 1843–1847; 16. Revolution: hope and disillusionment - 1847–1852; 17. 'The Altmeister of the departing epoch' - 1852–1859; 18. Reaction and neglect; Notes; Bibliography; Indexes.

Published in Spohr's 200th anniversary year, this book is the first to deal at length with both the life and the works of a composer who exerted a strong influence on the development of nineteenth-century music.