Louis Spohr
A Critical Biography

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

Clive Brown (Author)

9780521029056, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 March 2006

380 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 1.6 cm, 0.535 kg

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.

Subject Areas: Music [AV]