therealsnape (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
therealsnape) wrote2013-08-15 05:01 pm
therealsnape) wrote2013-08-15 05:01 pm
I'm Getting Fond of Old Fritz
At first the many Friedrichs that Germany throws at the unsuspecting lady-traveller are a tad confusing. There's the first, and the second, and Friedrich William, and it seems there's a list of those who were Kurfürst and another list of those who were upgraded to emperor.
Besides, the official guidebooks didn't have much interesting things to mention. My personal audio guide was wonderfully informative, but mostly about their wives, she being a historian with a bit of a thing for interesting ladies.
But on one of our little outings we entered a museum gift-shop, and they had very pleasant background music. Really most enchanting. I checked it out, and it turned out it was composed by Friedrich II The Great, or Alte Fritz as he was lovingly known.
Who was a good friend of Voltaire, another point in his favour. So I don't really care what kind of Emperor or Kurfürst he was, and whether or not he was gay, and if so, if that is an excuse for visiting one's wife only once a year. A man who can compose music like this has much to recommend himself.
I've played the CD with his flute concertos several times now, and I love them. Cheerful and soothing at the same time, and perfect background music for reading or desk-work. The image is Old Fritz himself, playing in his favourite palace where Voltaire visited him. For a three-year visit (none of that 'a guest and a fish stay fresh for three days' business). Only then did Friedrich really quarrel with him, and given Voltaire's flavourful personality, that's another thing in Fritz's favour.
Besides, the official guidebooks didn't have much interesting things to mention. My personal audio guide was wonderfully informative, but mostly about their wives, she being a historian with a bit of a thing for interesting ladies.
But on one of our little outings we entered a museum gift-shop, and they had very pleasant background music. Really most enchanting. I checked it out, and it turned out it was composed by Friedrich II The Great, or Alte Fritz as he was lovingly known.
Who was a good friend of Voltaire, another point in his favour. So I don't really care what kind of Emperor or Kurfürst he was, and whether or not he was gay, and if so, if that is an excuse for visiting one's wife only once a year. A man who can compose music like this has much to recommend himself.
I've played the CD with his flute concertos several times now, and I love them. Cheerful and soothing at the same time, and perfect background music for reading or desk-work. The image is Old Fritz himself, playing in his favourite palace where Voltaire visited him. For a three-year visit (none of that 'a guest and a fish stay fresh for three days' business). Only then did Friedrich really quarrel with him, and given Voltaire's flavourful personality, that's another thing in Fritz's favour.
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BTW there IS the rumour that it has been his SISTER who really composed the concertos, but, as a woman she could not openly claim such a talent (she was unhappily in love with one of the Bach sons, another rumour has it....).
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*writes fanfic in head where she's unhappily in love with one of the Bach daughters, but of course could not openly claim such discerning taste*
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BTW, we're having a famous Friedich II site in the second-next village: when he was on flight as a youngster, he got caught and brought back, which happened after the night he passed there (4th/5th August 1730).
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