Jakob Friedrich Kleinknecht

A member of the German family of musicians who were identified with a Protestant family in Ulm. Jakob played the flute having studied with his father. He joined his brother in Bayreuth becoming the flutist for the chapel. In 1747 he switched his pursuits to the violin and became Kapellmeister for the court in 1761. The musicians moved to Ansbach in 1769 and Jakob began the productive years of his composition efforts. The works include sonatas and trios for the flute and violin and display Kleinknecht's abilities on these instruments. Characteristically his music was fresh and facile. ~ Keith Johnson