Schaffrath, Christoph

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Schaffrath, Christoph

Schaffrath, Christoph, German harpsichordist, teacher, and composer; b. Hohenstein-on-Elbe, near Chemnitz, 1709; d. Berlin, Feb. 17, 1763. He was harpsichordist to the king and Polish Prince Sangusko (from 1730). He entered the service of Crown Prince Freidrich (later Friedrich the Great) in Ruppin in 1734, following his patron to Rheinsberg in 1736; when Friedrich became king in 1740, Schaffrath went to Berlin as harpsichordist in the court Kapelle; was named musician to Princess Amalie, the king’s sister, in 1741. He wrote some 13 syms., 6 overtures, a Flute Concerto, 2 violin concertos, 13 keyboard concertos, 2 concertos for 2 Keyboards and Strings, much chamber music, etc.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire