Ernst Christian Hesse was the only one who managed to study with the devil and the angel of the viol secretly at the same time. *Through uniting both opposing temperaments and styles he reinvented the viol and brought it to a new climax. When he passed his son Ludwig Christian continued in the footsteps of his father and became the last fiery virtuoso of the viol at the court of Frederick the Great.* The greatest composers at Sanssouci competed in writing the most virtuoso masterworks for Ludwig Christian, discovering new potentials of the instrument. Among them are also the concertos for viol and orchestra by Johann Gottlieb Graun, which form the most demanding repertoire of the viol.

*By uniting both opposing styles and temperaments he reinvented the viol and passed on his mastery to his son. Ludwig Christian Hesse became the last fiery virtuoso of the viol at the court of Frederick the Great.*