Dorette Henriette Scheidler began her love affair began when Louis Spohr when he was appointed Konzertmeister in October 1805 at the Gotha court, where he remained until September 1812. Louis affectionally reminisces about their courtship in his autobiography. He proposed to Dorette by asking her "Shall we make music together forever?". They married in 1806 and had three children that survived to adulthood. Louis, with the presumed close collaboration of Dorette, wrote duos for themselves as professional performing musicians, as was normal practice among eighteenth and nineteenth century virtuoso composer-performers, and performing by memory at their concerts.