Louis Schlösser (also spelled Schloesser) was born in Darmstadt on 17 November 1800, the son of the innkeeper Falk Schlösser. His musical talent was recognized early: he studied with the court organist Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck and became a violin pupil in the Darmstadt court orchestra. Compositions from this early period have survived. In 1822 he went to Vienna for further training, studying with I. X. Seyfried, J. Mayseder and A. Salieri. He was on friendly terms with Beethoven, who dedicated a small canon to him and, when Schlösser left for Paris in 1825, gave him several letters of recommendation and a number of commissions.
In Paris, Schlösser studied violin with Rodolphe Kreutzer and composition with Jean-François Lesueur.
After his stay in Paris he returned to the Darmstadt court orchestra. He became concertmaster in 1846 and court Kapellmeister in 1856. His stage works were received with great acclaim and were frequently performed. He also appeared often as a soloist, contributed to various periodicals and, in later years, taught at the conservatory.
Louis Schlösser died in Darmstadt on 17 November 1886. He is buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Darmstadt.
Schlösser's compositions are thoroughly crafted. His operas follow the German Romantic school (Weber, Spohr) as well as French models. His chamber music shows a distinctive rhythmic and harmonic language. Contemporary critics praised his “rare refinement and exceptionally fine taste.” He was highly esteemed as an artist, as a person and as a teacher.
Concertino for Horn and Orchestra
This Concertino for horn was composed in Paris in 1825 and published by André as Op. 16. It is dedicated to the horn player Louis-François Dauprat.
