Frederick II, King of Prussia, was a gifted musician who built up a court orchestra noted both for its quality and its size. Great musicians such as Graun, Quantz and C.P.E. Bach were members and contributed hugely to its standing. A patron of the fine arts, Frederick was a highly accomplished flautist whose works, performed in small private concerts, show a remarkable range of forms and expressive effects with slow movements offering long-breathed arcs of melody. The pieces by Alessandro De Marchi, conceived in the spirit of improvisation, provide a revealing impression of contemporary performance practice.
De Marchi, Alessandro
Prelude in A Minor
1 Prelude in A Minor 00:33
Frederick II (King of Prussia)
Flute Sonata in A Minor, SpiF 14
2 I. Andante ma sostenuto 03:11
3 II. Allegro assai 02:25
4 III. Allegro e scherzando 02:52
Flute Sonata in C Major, SpiF 82
5 I. Grave 03:26
6 II. Allegro 03:08
7 III. Tempo giusto 01:50
De Marchi, Alessandro
Variations on Tempo giusto from Frederick II's Sonata in C Major
8 Variation I 01:36
9 Variation II 01:43
10 Variation III 01:54
11 Variation IV 01:37
Marpurg, Friedrich Wilhelm
Fughe e capricci, Op. 1: I. Preludio
12 Fughe e capricci, Op. 1: I. Preludio 02:22
Frederick II (King of Prussia)
Flute Sonata in C Minor, SpiF 84
13 I. Recitativo 02:30
14 II. Andante e cantabile 05:55
15 III. Alla breve 01:15
Flute Sonata in A Major, SpiF 114
16 I. Affettuoso 03:49
17 II. Allegro 05:47
18 III. Presto 03:07
Flute Sonata in F Major, SpiF 118
19 I. Grave 03:50
20 II. Staccato: Allegro di molto 06:22
21 III. Tempo giusto 04:07
De Marchi, Alessandro
Prelude in G Minor
22 Prelude in G Minor 01:56
Frederick II (King of Prussia)
Flute Sonata in G Minor, SpiF 116
23 I. Adagio 04:27
24 II. Moderato 05:23
25 III. Presto 02:19
