The German flautist and composer Johann Joachim Quantz was born in 1697. He worked for 25 years at the Dresden court before entering the service of King Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia in 1741. Best known today for his influential manual on flute playing, Quantz served as flute teacher and flute maker to King Frederick. Many of Quantz’s approximately three hundred concertos and over two hundred other works for flute were composed for his royal pupil. His richly varied music combines lively Baroque counterpoint with elegant, expressive melodies.