The world owes the “Preußische Fuge” (Prussian Fugue), one of the great musical masterpieces, not only to its creator Johann Sebastian Bach, but also to the Prussian king Frederick.
Carl Philipp Emanual Bach, the second and most famous of Johann Sebastian’s sons, was employed as a cembalist at Frederick’s court. During a visit to his son in Potsdam, the older Bach was ordered to come to the king. Bach asked the king to specify the theme for a fugue which he them played impromptu for three voices. When the king desired him to play the theme for six voices the musician did not succeed to do so immediately. After his return to Leipzig, however, the composer’s ambition was piqued and he finalised the royal theme. Thus, the composition “Das musikalische Opfer” (The musical sacrifice) was created.
Frederick the Great was a great lover of music. The transverse flute he played with virtuosity can today be seen in the concert chamber at Sanssouci. Frederick himself composed 121 sonatas for the flute, concertos, arias, operas and symphonies.