There are instances of European monarchs laying claim to composer's credits for music of their era: best known is the example of songs attributed to England's King Henry VIII. In the case of Frederick the Great, also known as Frederick II of Prussia, the composition talent was very real, as were his musical abilities. He was taking instruction in the organ at age seven, and beginning in 1728, when he was 16 years old, he began taking instruction from flautist/composer Johann Joaquim Quantz. Frederick's father saw no purpose to his son's musical training and ordered its halt, but beginning in 1732, the crown prince maintained a chamber orchestra and took instruction in composition from its conductor, Carl Heinrich Graun.

Frederick's instrument was the flute, which he played for his own pleasure, as much as four times a day. Following his ascent to the throne in 1740 as Frederick II, he engaged Quantz at court under a very generous agreement. Frederick's interest in music caused him to take a serious interest in its creation within his domain, so that he even dictated the forms and shapes that any music written at court should take at Potsdam. He played only the works of Quantz, who authored 296 flute concertos for the king -- Frederick also wrote his own pieces, 122 sonatas for flute along with four concertos and four symphonies, as well as numerous other smaller scale works, all of which have survived. The four flute concertos are considered among the finest works of this talented amateur composer, who wrote for purposes of entertainment. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi