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Scan 136
Grove's Dictionary of music and musicians, 1927
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1Apr. 13, 1894), a well-known musical littérateur, son of the author of the 'Psalter und Harfe'; studied at Göttingen, and afterwards taught at Reval, Sondershausen and Leipzig, where he took part in the founding of the Bachverein in 1874. So great was his progress during this time, that in 1875 he was made professor of musical history in the Berlin University, and Perpetual Secretary to the Academy of Arts there. At Easter of the same year he became teacher of musical history in the Hochschule für Musik; in 1876 entered the direction, and at midsummer 1882 became a permanent director of that establishment. His principal literary work—J. S. Bach, in two vols. (B. & H.; vol. i. 1873, vol. ii. 1880), an authoritative treatise of all relating to the subject, but sadly wanting a better index—has remained the foundation of all modern Bach research and criticism. A translation by Clara Bell and J. A. Fuller Maitland was published in three volumes by Novello & Co. in 1884-85. He published a smaller biography of the same master, forming No. 1 of B. & H.'s Musikalische Vorträge, and another of Schumann, which, though issued as Nos. 37, 38 of the same series, was written for this Dictionary. (See Vol. IV. pp. 648-686.) His article on SPONTINI, written for the first edition of this Dictionary, was the first adequate treatment of that singular individual. An article on Homilius will be found in the Allg. deutsche Biographie, and many other productions of his pen in the Leipzig A.M.Z. for 1875-78, 1880-82, and in the earlier numbers of Eitner's M.f. M. He was co-editor with Chrysander and Adler of the Vierteljahrschrift für Musikwissenschaft, from 1885 to his death. His critical edition of the organ works of Buxtehude, in two volumes (B. & H., 1875, 1876), is an admirable specimen of editing, and, in addition to the music, contains much valuable information. He also edited the complete edition of Heinrich Schütz, and was a prominent member of the directorate of the D.D.T. A monument by Hildebrandt, the eminent sculptor, was erected to his memory in Berlin.
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5SPITZFLÖTE, SPITZFLUTE; i.e. pointed flute. An organ stop, so-called because its pipes are slightly conical, that is, taper gradually from the mouth upwards. The diameter of the top is generally one-third of that of the pipe at its mouth. The tone is thin and reedy, but pure and effective. The Spitzflöte may be of 8 ft., 4 ft., or 2 ft. pitch; in this country, stops of this kind are most commonly of 4 ft. pitch.
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9SPOFFORTH, (1) REGINALD (b. Southwell, Nottingham, 1770; d. Brompton, Sept. 8, 1827), glee composer. His uncle, Thomas Spofforth, was organist of the Minster at Southwell. From him and from Dr. Benjamin Cooke he probably derived all his instruction in music.
11About 1787 or 1788 he wrote a glee—probably his first—for three male voices, 'Lightly o'er the village green,' and in 1793 obtained two prizes from the 'Glee Club,' for his glees 'See! smiling from the rosy East,' and 'Where are those hours,' which brought him prominently forward. In 1796 he ventured into the theatre with his music to the farce 'The Witch of the Wood,' produced at Covent Garden.1 About 1799 he published a 'Set of Six Glees,' one of which, 'Hail, smiling morn,' at once caught the public ear, and has ever since retained its popularity. Another, 'Fill high the grape's exulting stream,' gained a prize in 1810. Spofforth's masterpieces, however, are not among his prize glees, and 'Come, bounteous May,' 'Mark'd you her eye,' 'Health to my dear,' and 'How calm the evening'—all for male voices—are among the finest specimens of his genius. For several years before his death his health was bad. He was buried at Kensington, where a monument was erected to his memory in St. Mary Abbotts Church. After his death W. Hawes published a number of his MS. glees, but some of these pieces are crude and imperfect, and probably not intended for publication.
13Reginald's younger brother, (2) SAMUEL (b. 1780; d. London, June 6, 1864), was appointed organist of Peterborough Cathedral when only 18, and in 1897 was made organist of Lichfield Cathedral.
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17SPOHR, LOUIS2 (b. Brunswick, Apr. 5, 1784; d. Cassel, Oct. 22, 1859), great violinist and composer. He was born in the house of his grandfather, a clergyman. Two years after, his father, a young physician, took up his residence at Seesen, and it was there that young Spohr spent his early childhood. Both parents were musical: the father played the flute; the mother was pianist and singer. The boy showed his musical talent very early, and sang duets with his mother when only 4 years of age. At 5 he began to play the violin, and when hardly 6 was able to take the violin-part in Kalkbrenner's trios. His first teachers were Riemenschneider and Dufour, both amateurs. The latter, a French émigré, was so much impressed with his pupil's exceptional talent that he persuaded the father to send him for further instruction to Brunswick. Along with his first studies on the violin went his earliest attempts at composition, which consisted chiefly of violin duets.
19EDUCATION AND TRAVEL.—At Brunswick he attended the grammar-school and continued his musical studies. His teachers were Kunisch, a member of the Duke's band, for the violin, and Hartung, an old organist, for counterpoint. This was the only instruction in the theory of music he ever received. According to his own
211 Information from W. B. S.
222 So, and not Ludwig, he calls himself in his Autobiography.
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