|
Adam Falckenhagen (1697 - 1761) |
|
|
Adam Falckenhagen studied with Johann Jacob Graf, a student of Silvius Leopold Weiss, and later with Weiss himself. Falckenhagen was employed at the court of the Margrave of Brandenburg from 1734 until his death in 1761. This proved a congenial posting for a lutenist such as Falckenhagen, not necessarily due to the Margrave himself, but because of his wife, Sophia Wilhelmine, to whom he dedicated is Opus One in 1740. Two years later Falckenhagen would dedicate his Opus Two to Wilhelmine’s mother, Sophia Dorothea, the Prussian queen. Wilhelmine (1709-1758) is a patron of more than passing interest. She was the elder sister of Frederick II of Prussia (better known to history as Frederick the Great) and apparently the only member of his family in whom he confided. Frederick was a keen amateur flutist and Wilhelmine played both the lute and harpsichord. "Falckenhagen was one of the last important lute composers. Although some of his works are rooted in the Baroque tradition like those of his teacher, Weiss, they show a progressive tendency towards the galant style. His keyboard-influenced lute writing is freely contrapuntal and usually limited to two voices. His output ranges from modest pieces suitable for amateurs to others (e.g. the Sonata op.1 no.5 and the concertos) of much greater difficulty, exploiting virtuoso techniques."1 1 'Falckenhagen [Falkenhagen], Adam', The New Grove Dictionary of Music Online ed. L. Macy <http://www.grovemusic.com> back | close window
|
|