Joel Lazar wrote:

>The rest is, particularly in comparison with the visionary work of his
>major contemporaries or younger colleagues-Weber, Schumann, Mendelssohn,
>remarkably thin and "formal"-although the technique is impeccable, the
>structural motivation, harmonic imagination and affective content are
>minimal.

I recall reading that Beethoven detested what he saw as the incessant and
pointless chromaticism of Spohr.  He mentioned him by name.  Perhaps that
puts things in perspective.  Maybe Spohr was chromatic before the world
(and he himself) was ready for it.  I don't know, of course, but I suspect
Beethoven would not have made the same remark about Wagner.

Chris Bonds