King Frederic II the Great (1912-1786) of Prussia is very famous of his musical activities: he composed, played flute several hours per day and directed the Berlin Opera. What was his influence to the entire world of music? Did he improve the growing popularity of the flute or the flute as an instrument?
Do we must thank him for the wide repertoire for flute that was composed by his court musicians in those days in Prussia?
This study tries to answer to these problems by concentrating to the personality of Frederic. Music ment for Frederic more than is stated in many monographies written about him. The musicality was one main feature of the character of Frederic. The results of the modern psychology of education and music therapy are adapted to explain Frederic's behaviour. Music was a spiritual exile for Frederic and helped him to survive from dramatic crises between him and his father. As a flutist he expressed his purest feelings and his most intimate personality, which has that's why remanded obscure for many biographers.

Frederic did not want to show himself for a bigger audience and publicity. He performed only for some close friends and musician colleges. Frederic did not want to influence to the development of the music. His influence was indirect. The method of this study is to evaluate Frederic's influence by presenting his personality and his musical environment. Therefore there are in this study paragraphs of his most important friend and court musicians, of the orchestra in Berlin, of the social status of the musicians and of the musical clubs in Berlin. This study concentrates to the facts and happenings that occurred before the year 1760.

Frederic's influence to the flute music can be seen in some details, but also here was his indirect influence more important. The bigger part of the compositions of J. J. Quantz was ordered by Frederic, but we have no exact facts telling that the other composers would have made music namely for Frederic. Even though we can suppose that a large part of the flute music of the musicians in Berlin was actually inspired by Frederic's playing.

We very much need good monographies and bibliographies of the composers of the first half on the 18th century in order to be able to study the musical phenomenons. The historical fact concerning the music life in those days are very rare and fragmentary. Especially Quantz and K. H. Graun should be documented carefully. It would help to clear up the picture of the musician Frederic the Great.

In the literature there has been a confusion of that, when Frederic began to compose. After this study Frederic made his first sonatas in the sonatas in the year 1733 and symphonies 1736.

    Author Ilari Lehtinen, 1998  (Photo: H. L.)