 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-20 04:19
Hello - I've been listening (over and over again) to Ludwig Spohr's delightful symphony no. 7, opus 121. It's a beautifully scored work (standard early romantic sized orchestra) but, oddly has a small chamber ensemble as well: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns and string quartet. The clarinet writting in the "smaller ensemble" is wonderful - I recommend you listen to this if you haven't already. I have the Marco Polo CD 8.223432 - I think it's a bit or a rarity (the piece of music, not the record label).
diz - sydney
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-03-20 04:51
diz...Yes, Spohr's works exude a complexity that extends into many levels. He is another composer who wrote 9 symphonies (seemingly the "magic number") and Symphony #7 "The Earthly and Divine in Human Life" is unduly underated.
When Spohr's symphonies are performed (very rare) it is most common to hear Symphony #4.
The reason most clarinetists gravitate toward Spohr was for his similarities with Mozart. Like Mozart, he was a Freemason, and held Mozart's writing as his personal ideal to be strived for.
Spohr's use of wind instruments was certainly masterful. His uncanny ability (like Mozart) before him, to capture the essence of each woodwind is something that many composers attempted to do, but few were as successful in accomplishing.
As wind players, we should not only listen to his instrumental writing, but his vocal compositions as well. The lessons to be learned from Spohr's melodic treatment can be applied to any medium...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-03-20 05:38
One other Spohr tidbit:
After a brief period of criticizing each other's writing, Spohr and Weber eventually became close friends.
When Weber was offered a court composer position in a neighboring town, he declined the offer, but recommended that Spohr be hired.
Spohr got the position and kept it for 37 years, until he died!...GBK
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Author: Stephane
Date: 2002-03-20 08:10
Spohr is definitely a great master I knew very little about until I started playing clarinet. I just love his clarinet concerti #3 and #4.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-20 21:19
Stephane - if you get a chance, listen to the symphonies - they are just beautiful.
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Author: Stephane
Date: 2002-03-21 15:47
Definitely, I hear he was a great violonist too, I'll listen to the violin concerti too.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-21 22:35
Yes - I recently heard a broadscast of a Queensland Symphony concert where Ola Rudner (Swede) conducted and played the violin in Spohr's "concerto" for Violin and Harp - my god, what a stunningly beautiful piece of music - I can't find a recording of this - can anyone help? I did tape the concert (very naughty I know) but only my Siamese cat and I listen to it, this is ok, isn't it??
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