Probably the historical figure most famous for also playing flute is Frederick the Great of Prussia. Not only was he an accomplished flautist, he was also a composer and would only play his music and the music of his teacher Johann Joachim Quantz. There was some "Daddy" interference, however. Frederick's father, King Wilhelm Frederick I, was very opposed to and forbade his musical study, because Quantz was more of the French school, and Wilhelm did not like foreign influences on his son. Frederick was actually beaten for disobeying. If only Wilhelm knew about today's studies. An interesting note: Frederick's sister, the Margravine Wilhemine (wife of the Margrave of Brandenburg), also played flute.
Sidney Lanier, the Georgian author of Tiger-Lilies and poetry of the Civil War era, left Georgia after the Civil War to become first flutist for the Peabody Orchestra. His love of music, as well as his love for his home state, was reflected in his writings.
The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer was noted to be a pessimist on his world views, but according to Suite 101 Philosopher editor Frederic Giacobozzi, Schopenhauer liked to play flute after dinner in the later years of his life (when his disposition became somewhat better. Maybe there's a connection!) Wagner (who once sent him a copy of "The Ring" with an appreciative inscription) called him "the first to recognize and designate with philosophic clearness the supreme position of music in relation to the other fine arts."
Schopenhauer believed that art in general provides compensation in the face of the ills which life inflicts, and he called music "more powerful and penetrating than the other arts, for they speak only of shadows, while it speaks of the things itself."
There is so much more on this topic that it will be continued next week,with more historical figures and some contemporary ones. So stayed tuned for the continuing saga of "Flutists who didn't quit their day jobs!"
If you have any ideas of folks who should be included in Part 2, anything you'd like to discuss on past articles, or just questions about flute in general, please join the discussion section here. And to do that, click up at the top to join Suite 101. This will enable you not only to contribute to the discussions on this page, but on the discussions on any other topic, and the general discussions page and chat in the Suite Spot. Once you've joined, click on "My Stuff" to work out your own, tailer-made section.
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