Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia: Fugue, Op. 7

Phillip Sear plays a fugue (in 4 voices) by the Prussian aristocrat and soldier Prince Louis Ferdinand (1772-1806). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prince Louis Ferdinand (1772-1806) was a nephew of Frederick the Great, who had an early career as a composer and pianist, and who counted Beethoven amongst his friends and admirers (he was the dedicatee of Beethoven&3rd Piano Concerto). Reicha also dedicated a major work - his &de varier&- to him. Alas his musical career was cut short by his military activities against Napoleon. At the Battle of Saalfeld in 1806, Louis Ferdinand was in command of 8,300 men against a French force of over 12,000 men, and died in combat after refusing to surrender. This fugue - published in 1807 - shows what a capable composer he was. Like most of his thirteen compositions, it only appeared in print after his death. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear