4 Sonatas, Nos. 21, 40, 76, 83 (Flute and Piano)

4 Sonatas, Nos. 21, 40, 76, 83 (Flute and Piano) By Frederick the Great (1712-1786), Published By Breitkopf and Hartel / Musica Rara, Edited By Mary Oleskiewicz.

Includes 2 performance scores for flute and Basso continuo, as well as a piano score.

This volume, which marks the 300th anniversary of the kings birth, contains the first edition of four sonatas for solo flute and basso continuo composed by Frederick II, known as the Great (17121786), King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. In the four sonatas presented here for the first time, the royal composer can lay uncontested claim to an above-average talent. The works stand out for their imaginative power, their skill and their stylistic variety. The grand rooms of Sanssouci Palace must have been filled with heartfelt Adagios and brilliant Allegros that confirmed the virtuoso flute technique of the Quantz pupil. The sonatas were recently recorded on CD (Hungaroton) by the editor who, as a performer, is a recognized expert on the music of J. J. Quantz and Frederick the Great.