Spohr Violin Concerto No 8 Op.47 for Violin and Orchestra

Spohr's Violin Concerto No. 8 in A minor, Op. 47 is one of the most original works in the Romantic concerto repertoire. The subtitle, "in modo d'una scena cantante" — in the style of a singing scene — describes it accurately: rather than the conventional three-movement concerto form, the work unfolds as a single extended movement modelled on an operatic scena, moving through recitative, arioso, and a faster concluding section. This edition prepares Spohr's original score for contemporary use with clean engraving and separate parts for all players.

At eighteen minutes, this is a substantial concert work and a serious undertaking for soloist and orchestra alike. The operatic concept gives it an immediate narrative quality that communicates well even to audiences unfamiliar with Spohr, and the single-movement structure means it holds together as a complete dramatic arc without an interval.

See and hear the difference

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear sense of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + Orchestra (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Timpani, Strings)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional (solo violin and orchestra)
• Duration: approximately 18 minutes
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts
• Edition: Spohr's original score, prepared by Paul Wood

Who it's for

This suits professional and conservatoire violinists looking for a major Romantic work that sits outside the standard concerto canon; symphony and chamber orchestras programming a solo vehicle with genuine dramatic weight; and recital and competition contexts where a less-familiar but musically substantial choice will stand out from the Brahms–Bruch repertoire.