Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

1682

Death

:

ca. 1762

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Johann Christian Schickhardt was a German composer and musician who lived during the Baroque period. He was born in 1682 in Brunswick, Germany, and was the son of a court musician. Schickhardt showed an early interest in music and began studying the flute and violin at a young age. Schickhardt's father recognized his son's talent and arranged for him to study with some of the best musicians of the time. He studied with Johann Joachim Quantz, a famous flutist and composer, and with Johann Sebastian Bach, who was the court organist in Weimar at the time. Schickhardt's early works were influenced by the music of his teachers, but he soon developed his own style. He was known for his use of counterpoint and his ability to blend different musical styles. His music was often described as lively and cheerful, with a strong sense of rhythm. Schickhardt's most famous works are his flute sonatas. He wrote over 100 sonatas for the flute, which were popular during his lifetime and are still performed today. His sonatas are known for their technical difficulty and their beautiful melodies. In addition to his flute sonatas, Schickhardt also wrote music for other instruments, including the harpsichord and the viola da gamba. He was also a skilled performer and played the flute, violin, and harpsichord. Schickhardt spent most of his career in Germany, but he also traveled to England and France. In England, he played for the court of King George I and was well-received by the English public. In France, he played for the court of Louis XV and was praised for his virtuosity. Despite his success as a musician, Schickhardt struggled financially throughout his life. He often had to rely on the patronage of wealthy individuals to support his music career. He died in 1762 in Stettin, Germany, at the age of 80. Today, Schickhardt is remembered as one of the most important composers of the Baroque period. His music is still performed and recorded by musicians around the world. His flute sonatas, in particular, are considered some of the most challenging and beautiful pieces of music ever written for the instrument.

More....