Adam Falckenhagen (26 April 1697 – 6 October 1754) was a German lutenist and composer of the Baroque period. He was born in Groß-Dölzig, near Leipzig in Saxony, but spent the later part of his life in Bayreuth. He wrote tuneful music which is still played today on

lute A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted. More specifically, the term "lute" can re ...

and

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...

. Much of this music survives in the

Bavarian State Library The Bavarian State Library (german: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, abbreviated BSB, called ''Bibliotheca Regia Monacensis'' before 1919) in Munich is the central " Landesbibliothek", i. e. the state library of the Free State of Bavaria, the bi ...

, Munich. He received his first musical instruction in the village of Knauthain, the native home of Johann Christian Weyrauch. Weyrauch was a pupil of

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...

and transcriber of works by Bach for the lute. In 1713 Falckenhagen is mentioned as "gifted in literature and music," and in 1715 as "Musician and footman of the young Lord of Dieskau." The Dieskaus were a family for whom J.S. Bach later wrote the ''Bauernkantate'' in Merseburg. Falckenhagen stayed in Merseburg with the Dieskaus from about 1715, until in 1719 he succeeded Johann Graf in the position of Saxe Court lutenist. Falckenhagen attended

Leipzig University Leipzig University (german: Universität Leipzig), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. The university was founded on 2 Decemb ...

from 1719 to 1720. It has been suggested that Falckenhagen also studied with Johann Graf, a pupil of

Sylvius Leopold Weiss Sylvius Leopold Weiss (12 October 168716 October 1750) was a German composer and lutenist. Born in Grottkau near Breslau, the son of Johann Jacob Weiss, also a lutenist, he served at courts in Breslau, Rome, and Dresden, where he died. Until ...

(1686-1750), and later with Weiss himself. Like many of his contemporaries, Falckenhagen travelled from court to court most of his life (Weissenfels, 1720-1727; Jena and Weimar (1729-1732)), eventually settling in Bayreuth, where he won the favour of Wilhelmine of Prussia, Margravine of Bayreuth, in 1734. Wilhelmine was a lutenist and sister of

Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the S ...

; she invited him to be the court lutenist at Bayreuth. Falckenhagen held this position until his death in 1754. Falckenhagen's music is representative of the final flowering of 18th-century lute music in Germany.

Works

*''6 Sonatas for Lute'', Op. 1 (Nuremberg, circa 1740) *''6 Partitas for Lute'', Op. 2 (Nuremberg, circa 1742) *''6 Concertos for Lute and Flute'' Op. 3 (Nuremberg, circa 1743) *''Preludio Nel quale Sono contenuti tutti i Tuoni Musicali'' (1750)

References

*''Oxford Composer Companions, J.S. Bach,'' 1999, p. 167 {{DEFAULTSORT:Falckenhagen, Adam 1697 births 1754 deaths 18th-century classical composers 18th-century German composers 18th-century German male musicians German Baroque composers German classical composers German male classical composers German lutenists Leipzig University alumni