Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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RODE RODWELL 117
achieved his greatest success in the French
capital. In 1803 he went with Boieldieu to
St. Petersburg. Spohr heard him on his
passage through Brunswick, and was so impressed
that for a considerable time he made it
his one aim to imitate his style and manner as
closely as possible. Arrived at the Russian
capital, Eode met with a most enthusiastic
reception, and was at once attached to the
private music of the Emperor with a salary of
5000 roubles (about £750). But the fatigues
of life in Russia were so excessive that from
this period a, decline of his powers appears to
have set in. On his return to Paris in 1808
his reception was less enthusiastic than in
former times, and even his warmest friends
and admirers could not but feel that he had
lost considerably in certainty and vigour. From
1811 we find him again travelling in Germany.
Spohr, who heard him in 1813 at Vienna, tells
in his Autobiography (i. 178) of the disappointment
he felt at Eode's playing, which he now
found mannered, and deficient in execution
and style.
In Vienna Rode came into contact, with Beethoven,
who finished the great Sonata in G, op.
96, expressly for him. It waa played by Rode
and the Archduke Rudolph, Beethoven's pupil,
at a private concert, but as far as the violin
part was concerned, not much to the composer's
satisfaction. Soon afterwards, at any rate,
Beethoven requested the Archduke to send the
violin part to Rode that he might play it over
before a second performance, and he adds
'
He wiU not take it amiss ; certainly not
would to God there were reason to beg his
pardon for doing so.'' F^tis's statement that
Beethoven wrote a Romance for Rode, probably
rests on a confusion of the G major Sonata
with the Romanza in the same key.
In 1814 Eode went to Berlin, married, and
remained for some time. He then retired to
his native place. At a later date he made an
ill-advised attempt to resume a public career.
But his appearance at Paris proved a complete
failure, and Mendelssohn, writing from thence
in April 1825, says that he was fixed in his
resolution never«gain to take a fiddle in hand.^
This failure he took so much to heart that his
health began to give way, and he died at
Bordeaux, Nov. 25, 1830.
Rode was one of the greatest of all violinists.
During the earlier part of his career he displayed
all the best qualities of a grand, noble,
pure, and thoroughly musical style. His
intonation was perfect ; his tone large and
pure ; boldness and vigour, deep and tender
feeling, characterised his performances. In
fact he was no mere virtuoso, but a true artist.
His truly musical nature shows itself equally
in his compositions. Although his general
1 Thayer, Life