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Updated: May 18, 2025
"And my Graun is so renowned a composer, that any man must count it an honor to be beloved by him," said Frederick, tenderly. "For myself," said Quantz, gravely, handing the king a small roll carefully wrapped up, "I have brought something more than my naked heart in honor of my king's birthday. The king opened it hastily.
Illustrious Quantz, we say, gives Fritz lessons on the flute; and here is a scene they underwent; they and a certain brisk young soldier fellow, Lieutenant von Katte, who was there too; of whom the reader will tragically hear more in time.
He cursed himself for allowing the monster Quantz to come to the house. "Alas! alas! I have closed my heart to the new era and its horrors, hut I shall lose my children; they will not wish to wander in my ways." At this moment Anna entered the room, with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. "Father," she said, hastily, "the supreme desire of my heart will now be fulfilled.
Quantz has at last promised that I shall sing at the next court concert. In eight days the king returns, and a concert will be arranged, at which I, your happy daughter, will sing an Italian song." "Italian!" "She will sing Italian," murmured Quantz, who was listening at the door.
"Let us try it," said Quantz, carelessly opening the piano. Frederick went to his room to seek his note-book, and place his letters upon the table, but, before he returned, he called the marquis to him. "D'Argens," said he, "may I not thank you for this agreeable surprise?" "Yes, sire, I proposed it, and took the responsibility upon myself. If your majesty is displeased, I am the only culprit!"
Jordan, send me Secretary Eichel. I must dictate a few necessary letters, and then, gentlemen, we will meet in the music room, where I am to play a duet with Quantz. I invite you as audience." The king dismissed his friends with a gracious smile, jested gayly with Fredersdorf, and then dictated three letters to his secretary.
One can, in the end, escape from this chaos of differing ears only if one accedes to the opinion of old Quantz, the flute teacher of Frederick the Great, who, after an exhaustive argument for and against, comes to the conclusion that in theory nothing can be definitely decided concerning the characters of the keys; in practice, however, the composer is sure to feel that everything does not sound equally well in all keys and therefore must decide each individual case separately, in conformity with his artistic ear and instinct; I will merely add also in conformity with the ear of his time.
At the lower end of the table sat the two Vendas, the two Grauns, and Quantz, the powerful and much-feared virtuoso of the flute and instructor of the prince royal, whose rudeness was almost imposing, and before whom the prince himself was somewhat shy. But to-day even Quantz was quiet and tractable.
Now a certain Quantz was one of his principal instructors in that art, and indeed gave him the last finish of perfection in it. The young man's Mother, good Queen Feekin, had begged this favor for him from the Saxon Sovereignties; and pleaded hard for it at home, or at worst kept it secret there.
"She is a pupil of Quantz," said Pollnitz, "and he has often assured me she would make a great singer." "Ah, she is a pupil of Quantz," repeated the king, and his eye glanced around in search of him. Quantz, with an angry face, and his eyebrows drawn together, was seated at his desk.
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