Quantz: Capriccio in G Major

Yesterday began in Brandenburg an der Havel, at least for Professor Carol and me as we neared the end of our journey on the Elbe River from Prague to Berlin. The rest of the day was spent in Potsdam, the capital of the German State (Land) of Brandenburg, which surrounds (but does not include) Berlin.

We have been to Potsdam many times, always focusing on Frederick the Great’s pleasure palace of Sanssouci. Within that small palace is Frederick’s music room. He was an accomplished flutist.

Johann Joachim Quantz (1697-1773) was the most renowned flutist during Frederick’s reign and became Frederick’s flute teacher in 1740. The famous painting by Adolph Menzel, “Flute Concerto with Frederick the Great in Sanssouci,” shows the music room with Frederick in the center playing flute. Seated at the fortepiano is J.S. Bach’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, who enjoyed more fame and status at the time than his father who continued to compose in the stodgy old Baroque style. Quantz is leaning against the wall on the right. (You are not allowed to lean on the wall anymore.)

In the video, in addition to hearing Quantz’s Capriccio, you will see the palace and some of the surrounding grounds. Frederick was quite fond of his Whippets, by the way – so much so that he is now buried beside them in the garden beside the palace.