Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8

Louis Spohr’s innovative approach to symphonic writing began with the programmatic Symphony No. 4 (8555398) and was further broadened by Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 121 which he subtitled ‘The Earthly and Divine in Human Life’. Jettisoning traditional symphonic form, this work is in effect a daring symphonic poem in three movements with a small orchestra representing the ‘divine’ and the full orchestra the ‘earthly’. The more traditional Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 137 – enshrining both tragic lament and sweet serenade – enables us to compare Spohr the innovator with Spohr the formalist.