343985 Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics Vol. 231 PIERRE RODE TWENTY-FOUR CAPRICES (STUDIES) For the VIOLIN Inthe 24 MAJOR AND MINOR SCALES Eclited and Fingered by FERDINAND DAVID With a Biographical Sketch of the Composer by THEO. BAKER NEW YORK : G. SCHIRMER Copyright, 1995, by 0. Schirmer, foe. Printed in the 0.8.4.PIERRE RODE, (whose baptismal names in full were Jacques Pierre Jo- seph,) shared with’ Ballot the honor of being the most distinguished among the violinists trained by Vitti, He was bom at Bordeaux on Feb. 26, 1774, and under his frst violin-master, ‘André Joseph Fauvel, made such rapid progress between the ages of 8 and 14, that at 12 he astonished both amateurs and artists by bis performance of con- certos in public. In 1778, Fauvel was so deeply im- pressed by his pupil's development that he decided to exhibit his talent in the national arena, and accordingly repaired with him to Paris. Here young Rode appeared at a Concert Spiri- tuél, and his playing attracted general attention and ap- probation;—one (to Fauvel) unforeseen consequence of which was his desertion of his old teacher in order to profit by the instruction af Viott, then at the zenith of his fame as a violin-player. Though doubtless intensely chagrined by this occurrence, Fauvel concluded to stay in Paris, and met with no inconsiderable professional suc ess, despite his mishap at the beginning. 5 Rode, after two years’ study swith his new master, re- appeared (1790) in public, playing Viott's 13th viotin~ concerto at the Thédire de Monsieur, as an entracte toan 4 Italian opera, This led to his engagement, in the same year, as leader of the second violins in the orchestra ‘attached to the Thédire Feydeau—a responsible gasi- | tion for a lad of sixteen, Here, too, at the concerts given during Holy Week, Rode performed various other con certos by his illustrious teacher and patron, and re- ceived his full share of the applause showered on both {composer and interpreter; the 18th concerto (in E-minot) ‘was a special favorite, and was repeated by request at 3 concerts, His career ag a traveling virtuoso began in 1794, when he left the Thédire Feydeau for a briliant tournée through Holland and to Hamburg; he also visited Berlin, and played before King Frederick William Il. Returning to Hamburg, he embarked on a vessel bound for Bordeaux; but by stress of weather they were forced to seck shelter am an English port, and Rode seized this favorable oppor tunity to pay his respects to Viotti (then acting as thea- tre-manager and concert-giver in London). Probably a hope of repeating his Continental triumphs likewise in- fluenced him 10 take this step, which, however, proved anything but fortunate, as he was able to appear only ‘once, ata charitable concert, and before a comparatively small and unenthusiastic audience, This misadventure disgusted him with England, and he soon returned to Hamburg, passing thence 10 France through Holland and Belgium, and giving, on the way, a succession of con- certs which added new lustre to his already great pres- tige. ‘On arriving in Paris, he was made (1796) professor of, violin in the newly established Conservatory. Yer in a short time the taste acquired fora rov- ing life impelled him to seek new lau- rels in fresh fields; he undertook second concert-tour, through Spain, and at Madrid made’ the acquaintance ‘of Boccherini, who provided the i strumentation for several of his con- certos;—for Rode, like many other French virtwosi of the period, possessed but a fragmentary knowledge of the art of composition. In 1800 we find him once more in Paris, installed as solo violinist to the First Consul. In 1803, acceding to a flattering offer (ror the Imperial Court, he journeyed to St Petersburg, where he was attached to the Czar's private orchestra in the capacity of first violin. His début in that city was the first of a series of indescribable triumphs, in- creasing in magnitude throughout his sojourn of 5 years in the Russian capit ‘This was the culminating point of his artistic fortunes. ‘On his return to Paris (1818) the great audience assembled at the Odéon, prepared to give their former idol an over: ‘whelming ovation, left the hall disappointed; for, although the same surety and finish of technique, the same breadth and purity of tone, were still his, the style lacked his old- timefervency and potency of expression. This was Rode's last public appearance in Paris for many years; the coal- ness of his reception cut him to the quick, and, though often giving private recitals, he now persistently avoided the concert-stage in Paris.’ In 1811, weary of such un- ‘wonted inactivity, he recommenced his travels in central Europe. At Vienna he met Beethoven, who wrote for him the great violin-sonata in G, Op. 96—Spohr, hearing Rode play while in Vienna, noted with wonderment the decay of his style—a style with which, 10 years before, he (Spohr) had been so enchanted as to deem it worthy of his peculiar study and zealous emulation—In 1814. he mattied, at Berlin, where he remained for a time; he then settled in Bordeaux, and lived there for the remainder of his days, with the exception of an ill-starred attempt, in 1828, to regain the affections of his earlier Parisian admiters. The acute disappointment consequent on this final repulse hastened his death, which occurred Nov. 25, 1830, at Bor- demux. Asa player, Rode vas one of the leading spirits of the Franco-ltalian school founded by Viotti, and one of the foremost artists who have ever lived. As a composer, these traits are brought into full prominence; some few of his works—the Variations in G and B, and the 7th Con- certo in A-minor—are classics, to which must be added is ‘24 Caprices.” still a standard instruction-book, rank- ing in difficulty just above the celebrated ‘+42 Etudes” by Kreutzer, and of equally great pedagogical value; al- though Rode, on account of his unsettled life, took but few pupils in a regular course of training. —His published ‘works embrace, besides these renowned Caprices, 10 concertos, 3 books of duos, 5 sets of quartets, and. 7 of variations Tueo. BAKER.