Spohr’s Violin Concertos: A Forgotten Legacy

Louis Spohr (1784-1859) was a German composer, violinist and conductor who was highly regarded during his lifetime. He composed ten symphonies, ten operas, eighteen violin concertos, four clarinet concertos, four oratorios, and various works for small ensemble, chamber music, and art songs. He also invented the violin chinrest and the orchestral rehearsal mark. His music spans the transition between Classical and Romantic styles, but fell into obscurity after his death.

Spohr’s violin concertos are among his most significant contributions to the violin repertoire. He wrote his first violin concerto at the age of 18, and his last one at the age of 74. His concertos display his mastery of violin technique, his expressive melodic style, and his innovative use of form and harmony. He often experimented with novel structures, such as the one-movement “scena cantante” form of his eighth concerto, or the thematic transformation and cyclic integration of his ninth and tenth concertos. He also explored different musical genres and influences, such as the opera, the symphony, the folk song, and the oriental music.

Spohr’s violin concertos were widely performed and admired by his contemporaries, such as Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Paganini. He also influenced many later violinists and composers, such as Joachim, Brahms, Bruch, and Tchaikovsky. However, his concertos gradually lost their popularity in the twentieth century, as they were overshadowed by the works of other Romantic composers. Today, only a few of his concertos are occasionally performed and recorded, while the rest remain largely neglected and forgotten.

This is unfortunate, as Spohr’s violin concertos deserve to be rediscovered and appreciated by modern audiences. They offer a rich and diverse musical experience, ranging from the elegant and graceful to the dramatic and passionate, from the lyrical and poetic to the virtuosic and dazzling. They also reflect Spohr’s personality and life, as well as the historical and cultural context of his time. They are not only valuable examples of the development of the violin concerto genre, but also expressive works of art that can touch the hearts and minds of listeners.