Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great or "der alte Fritz“ ("Old Fritz“), was born in Berlin on 24 January 1712, and died on 17 August 1786 in Potsdam. Associated with his name are mostly his actions and merits as king and military stragegist. Brought up by his father, Frederick William I, in an authoritarian, severe, and militaristic manner, he assumed the affairs of state after his father’s death in 1740, conducted numerous wars to unite and enlarge his sphere of influence, and, after the First Partition of Poland in 1722, named himself King of Prussia.

 

Less well known are Frederick’s artistic ambitions, which his father disdained and made no bones about calling "effete.“ Nevertheless, in addition to military, economic, and religious training, Frederick William allowed his son to take lessons in choral singing, composition, thorough bass, and harpsichord playing with cathedral choirmaster Hayne. In 1728, after accompanying his father on a state visit to Dresden and becoming acquainted with the Saxon court chapel, Frederick desired a transverse flute, and Johann Joachim Quantz as his teacher. The wedding with Elizabeth Christine in 1733 and the move to Rheinsberg Castle in 1736 allowed Frederick much more freedom. In Rheinsberg he could pursue his artistic interests relatively undisturbed and put into practice his idea of a court chapel of his own. By 1737 his instrumental ensemble had nearly grown into a full orchestra: three first violins (J.G. Graun, F. Benda, and G. Czarth), two second violins (J. Blume and J. C. Grundke), two violas (J. G. Benda and Reich), one violoncello (A. Hock), one double bassist (J. G. Janitsch), one harpsichordist (Ch. Schaffrath), the harpist Petrini, the lutenist E. G. Baron, C. H. Graun as director of music, singer, and cellist, and also a wind group with two hornists, two oboists, and two bassoonists (and occasionally, and from 1741 in permanent employment, J.J. Quantz as flutist). A year later, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach joined the ensemble, although he continued to maintain his permanent residence in Berlin.

 

A speciality of this recording with works from this sphere is the unusual casting withtraverse flute and lute.