French Violinist and Composer Pierre Rode was Born in 1774

Pierre Rode’s major and most enduring contribution to the violin literature are his 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 22

French violinist and composer Pierre Rode was born on this day in 1774 in Bordeaux, France. 

A student of Giovanni Battista Viotti, Rode is remembered as one of the eminent virtuoso violinists of the 18th and early 19th Centuries.

In addition to his 13 Violin Concertos, Pierre Rode’s major and most enduring contribution to the violin literature are his 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 22 — which form part of the standard scholastic and technical repertoire of most advanced-level violinists.

His output also includes fantasies and variations for unaccompanied violin, duos for two violins, and "quatuors brillants" which featured a dominant first violin part. In collaboration with Kreutzer and Baillot, they released an influential Méthode de violon.

As an educator, he was appointed in 1796 to the staff of the newly established Conservatoire de Paris. When in Berlin later on in life, his pupils include Mendelssohn’s friend and collaborator Eduard Rietz.

In 1799, he was appointed solo violinist in Napoleon’s private musical establishment, and later, spent four years at the Russian court in St Petersburg.

Notably, Beethoven wrote his last violin sonata, Op. 96, for Rode when the violinist was visiting Vienna.

 

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