Christoph Schaffrath

about

Christoph Schaffrath (1709-1763) wasa German harpsichordist, composer, and teacher. Born in Hohenstein, near Chemnitz, one of the earliest references to him was in 1733, when he applied for the position of organist at the Sophienkirche, Dresden. In his application he stated that for the past three years he had been ‘harpsichordist to the king’ and the Polish Prince Sangusko. Although he was one of three candidates short-listed, Schaffrath was unsuccessful, and the post went to Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. By the following year, however, he was in the service of Crown Prince Frederick (later Frederick the Great). He was among those who moved with the prince’s establishment from Ruppin to Rheinsberg in 1736, and on Frederick’s accession in 1740 was installed as harpsichordist in the court Kapelle at Berlin. In 1741 he was appointed musician to the king’s sister, Princess Amalia, a title which appears on contemporary publications of his music and which he was still using in the 1760s. Although he remained at Berlin until his death on 17th February 1763, his name is not included in Marpurg’s register of the Kapelle (1754); this implies that he left the orchestra at some point, possibly after the 1741 appointment. As a composer Schaffrath restricted himself to instrumental music, producing a wide range of chamber and orchestral works. His main interest lay in keyboard music, and various collections of his sonatas (for keyboard alone and keyboard with melody instrument) were publ

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albums

Schaffrath: Six Sonatas

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Boismortier, J.B.: Sonata, Op. 8, No. 3 / Schenck, J.: Sonata No. 8 / Schaffrath, C.: Duetto in D Minor

Schaffrath: Trios & Sonatas

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Chamber Music (Baroque) - Frederick Iii / Schaffrath, C. / Bach, C.P.E. / Benda, F. / Janitsch, J.G. (Music From Sanssouci)

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Berlin Castles (Music From) - Graun, J.G. / Frederick Ii / Benda, F. / Quantz, J.J. / August Wilhelm / Janitsch, J.G. / Bach, C.P.E.

Schaffrath, C.: Orchestral Music

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Chamber Music (German 18Th Century) - Janitsch, J.G. / Schaffrath, C. / Graun, J.G. (Il Gardellino)

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The Musical Treasures Of Leufsta Bruk

Chamber Music (Baroque) - Frederick Ii / Benda, F. / Bach, C.P.E. / Schaffrath, C. / Quantz, J.J.

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Quantz, Schaffrath, Bach, Marais, Hotteterre - 18th Century Chamber Music

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Schaffrath, C.: Harpsichord Sonatas, Op. 2, Nos. 1-6

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Chamber Music (Baroque) - Frederick Iii / Schaffrath, C. / Bach, C.P.E. / Benda, F. / Janits

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