Louis Spohr

Early Romantic · 1784–1859

Louis Spohr was one of the most famous musicians in Europe in his lifetime, a violin virtuoso from Braunschweig, Germany, born in 1784, who toured widely before settling into the job of court music director in Kassel, where he stayed for the rest of his career. In his own day his fame rivaled Beethoven's; history has been less kind, but the music holds real charm.

He was also a practical innovator. He is credited with inventing the chinrest, the small fitting that lets a violinist hold the instrument securely, and he was an early champion of conducting with a baton rather than leading from an instrument. His clarinet concertos were written for a virtuoso friend, Johann Simon Hermstedt, and helped build the instrument's solo repertoire.

Start with the Violin Concerto no. 8 in A minor, which he wrote in the style of an opera scene, the violin singing like a soprano. The Clarinet Concerto no. 1 in C minor makes a fine second stop.

140 works in the catalog, across 4 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

6 Salonstucke, for violin and pinano, op. 135
7 String Quintets, op. 33
Adagio in G major, for violin and piano, WoO37
Double String Quartet no. 1 in D minor, op. 65
Double String Quartet no. 2 in E flat major, op. 77
Duet for 2 Vioins in G major, op. 3, no. 3
Duet for 2 violins in A minor, op. 67, no. 1
Duet for 2 Violins in D major, op. 67, no. 2
Duet for 2 Violins in F major, op. 3, no. 2
Duet for 2 violins in G minor, op. 67, no. 3
Duo for Violin and Viola in E minor, op. 13
Duos concertant in E major, for violin and piano, op. 112
Fantasia and Variations on a theme by Danzi, for clarinet and string quartet in B flat major, op. 81
Fantasia for Harp in C minor, op. 35
Fantasia on themes by Handel and Vogler, for violin and harp or piano, op. 118
Nonet, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass, in F major, op. 31
Octet, for clarinet, 2 horns, violin, 2 viola, cello and double bass, op. 32
Piano Quintet in D major, op. 130
Piano Trio no. 1 in E minor, op. 119
Piano Trio no. 2 in F major, op. 123
Piano Trio no. 4 in B major, op. 133
Potpourri on themes by Mozart, for violin, string quartet and double bass in B flat major, op. 22
Potpourri on themes by Mozart for violin and string trio in B major, op. 24
Potpourri on themes from Gaveaux's 'Le petit matelot,' for violin and string trio in G major, op. 5
Rondoletto in G major, for violin and piano, op. 149
Septet in A minor, op. 147
Sextet, for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos in C major, op. 140
Sonata, for violin and harp in B flat major, op. 16
Sonata, for violin and harp in G and Ab, op. 115, "Sonata Concertante"
Sonata, for violin and harp or piano in D and Eb, op. 114
Sonata Concertante, for harp and violin, op. 113
Sonata for Violin and Harp in C minor, WoO 23
String Quartet no. 3 in D minor, op. 11
String Quartet no. 6 in G minor, op. 27
String Quartet no. 10 in A major, op. 30
String Quartet no. 11 in E major, op. 43
String Quartet no. 19 in A major, op. 68
String Quartet no. 26 in E flat major, op. 83,
String Quartet no. 30 in A major, op. 93
String Quartet no. 31 in A major, op. 132
String Quartet no. 32 in C major, op. 141
String Quartet no. 33 in G major, op. 146
String Quartet no. 34 in E flat major, op. 152
String Quartet no. 35 in E flat major, WoO 41
String Quartet no. 36 in G minor, WoO 42
String Quintet no. 3 in B minor, op. 69
String Quintet no. 4 in A minor, op. 91
String Quintet no. 5 in G minor, op. 106
String Quintet no. 6 in E minor, op. 129
String Quintet no. 7 in G minor, op. 144
Three String Quartets, op. 29
Three String Quartets, op. 45
Three String Quartets, op. 58
Three String Quartets, op. 74
Three String Quartets, op. 82
Three String Quartets, op. 84
Trio, for harp, violin and cello in E minor and F-, WoO 28
Two String Quartets, op. 4
Two String Quartets, op. 15
Variations in A major, for string quartet, op. 8
Variations in D minor, for string quartet, op. 6
Variations in F on Méhul's 'Je suis encore dans mon printemps,' for harp, op. 36

Orchestral

Clarinet Concerto no. 1 in C minor, op. 26
Violin Concerto no. 8 in A minor, op. 47
Clarinet Concerto no. 2 in E flat major, op. 57
Clarinet Concerto no. 3 in F minor, WoO 19
Clarinet Concerto no. 4 in E minor, WoO 20
Concertante for 2 Violins and Orchestra in B minor, op. 88
Concertante in A for 2 Violins and Orchestra, op. 48
Concertante in C major, for violin, cello and orchestra, WoO 11
Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra in A minor, op. 131
Concert Overture in D major, op. 126, "Im ernsten Stil"
Der Matrose: Overture
Erinnerung an Marienbad, waltz for orchestra in A major, op. 89
Grand Concert Overture in F major, WoO1
Notturno for Winds and Turkish band in C major, op. 34
Overture for Orchestra in C minor, op. 12
Potpourri in A on themes from Jessonda, op. 64
Potpourri on themes from P. von Winter's 'Das unterbrochene Opferfest' in F for clarinet and orchestra, op. 80
Symphony no. 1 in E flat major, op. 20
Symphony no. 2 in D minor, op. 49
Symphony no. 3 in C minor, op. 78
Symphony no. 4 in F major, op. 86, "Die Weihe der Tone"
Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 102
Symphony no. 6 in G, op. 116, "Historical"
Symphony no. 7 in C, op. 121, "Irdisches und Göttliches im Menschenleben"
Symphony no. 8 in G major, op. 137
Symphony no. 9 in B minor, op. 143, "Die Jahreszeiten"
Symphony no. 10 in E flat major, WoO8
Variations on a theme from 'Alruna' in B flat major, for clarinet and orchestra, WoO 15
Violin Concerto no. 1 in A major, op. 1
Violin Concerto no. 2 in D minor, op. 2
Violin Concerto no. 4 in B minor, op. 10
Violin Concerto no. 5 in E flat major, op. 17
Violin Concerto no. 6 in G minor, op. 28
Violin Concerto no. 7 in E minor, op. 38
Violin Concerto no. 9 in D minor, op. 55
Violin Concerto no. 10 in A major, op. 62
Violin Concerto no. 11 in G major, op. 70
Violin Concerto no. 12 in A, op. 79
Violin Concerto no. 14 in A minor, op. 110
Violin Concerto no. 15 in E minor, op. 128

Stage

Der Alchymist, WoO57 Opera
Der Berggeist, op. 73 Opera
Faust, WoO 51, WoO 51a Opera
Jessonda, op. 63 Opera

Vocal

3 Leider, for 2 sopranos and piano, WoO117
6 Lieder, op. 25
6 Songs, for baritone, violin and piano, op. 154
6 Songs, for voice, clarinet and piano, op. 103
6 Songs, for voice, clarinet and piano, op. 103
6 Songs, op. 25
6 Songs, op. 37
6 Songs, op. 41
6 Songs, op. 72
Abendlied, song for voice and piano, WoO104, "Sternennacht, heil'ge Nacht!"
Der Fall Babylons, oratorio
Der Herbst, song for voice and piano, WoO115, "Sommer entschwand"
Des Heilands letzte Stunden, oratorio for soloists, chorus and orchestra, WoO 62
Die letzten Dinge
Die verschweigene Nachtigall, song for voice and piano, WoO126, "Unter der Linden an der Heide"
Duettes, for 2 sopranos, op. 108
Glockenklänge, song for voice and piano, WoO118, "Sanft ertönen Morgenglokken"
Grüsse, song for voice and piano, WoO123, "Fliege auf Windes Schwingen"
Immerdar Liebe, song for voice and piano, WoO113, "Kömmt mit dem Lenz auch die Lieb gegangen"
Immer dasselbe, song for voice and piano, WoO124, "Es wogt wie steigende Wellen"
Jubilate Deo
Leibt er mich, song for voice and piano, WoO109
Lied des verlassenen Mädchens, for voice and piano, WoO90, "Wie weil' ich so gern"
Lied des verlassenen Mädchens, WoO 90, "Wie weil' ich so gern"
Nachgefühl, for voice and piano, WoO91, "Wenn die Reben wieder blühen"
Nachgefühl, WoO 91, "Wenn die Reben wieder blühen"
Neue Liebe, neues Leben, song for voice and piano, WoO127, "Herz, mein Herz, was soll das geben"
Thränen, song for voice and piano, WoO108, "Was ist's, o Vater, was ich verbrach?"
Unterwegs, song for voice and piano, WoO101, "In die blaue Luft hinaus einen stillen Gruss nach Haus"
Verlust, song for voice and piano, WoO99, "Am Bach, am Bach, im flüsternden Grass"
Was treibt den Waidmann in den Wald, for voice, horn and harp or piano, WoO 92, "Lied der Emma"
Wenn sich zwei Herzen finden, for soprano, alto and piano, WoO120
Wohin, song for voice and piano, WoO125, "Wohin du rauschender Strom?"
Wolle keiner mich fragen, song for voice and piano, WoO106

Related composers

Keep a listening journal.

Opus is free on the App Store.