Johann Gottlieb Janitsch

Janitsch was a popular composer among his contemporaries and held important positions with the court in Prussia. At the age of twenty one he matriculated at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder taking part in the musical life. One of his serenades was performed before Frederich Wilhelm I later giving a similar concert before Crown Prince Frederick. He was a secretary to Franz Wilhelm von Happe and became a personal musician in the orchestra of Frederick The Great. He acceeded to the position of contraviolinist, moved with Frederick to Berlin and remained there until his own death. In the court he instituted the series of "Friday Academies" which inspired Schale's "Monday Assemblies" and Agricola's "Saturday Concerts." Janitsch was commissioned to compose music for a number of important courtly occasions which informed his use of the galnat style. He composed sonatas for the harpsichord and organ the compositions of which illustrated a keen awareness of counterpoint but a lack of melodic innovation. ~ Keith Johnson