Louis Spohr - July 5 -- 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Wednesday July 5, 1911
Practice with Miss S. a little.  Tin and I assisted Florence Pemberton in piano recital.  Big rain storm therefore small crowd.  Got along beautifully anyway.  Played Spohr -- Petite Romanze and Obertass.  Granny's birthday.  Elon, M. and H. came down for day.  Had to give 4 lessons.

IN RITA'S DAY:  The composer and violinist Louis Spohr (above) was almost as famous as Beethoven and Mozart.  Around 1820 he invented the chin rest for the violin.  He was also one of the first conductors to use a baton and invented the lettering system on sheet music so a conductor can say (for example) "Start at Letter C"  He also could paint since the portrait above is a self-portrait. 

TODAY:  Spohr is "the forgotten Master."  Even though he was compared to Beethoven and Mozart and was quite popular into the beginning of the 20th century, Spohr is not well known today.  I even forgot that I had looked him up earlier this year because Rita mentioned him.  I guess he is forgetable???  The Nazis banned at least one of his works because in it a European was in love with an Indian princess.
Other news of today... A famous trial concluded.  Casey Anthony, a mother accused to killing her 2 year old daughter because she wanted to be "free," was found NOT GUILTY.  People are really upset by the verdict.  It seems pretty clear that she was involved in the death, but the cause of death could not be determined so the jury had "reasonable doubt."