Johann Baptist Wendling played the flute in the Mannheim court orchestra from 1751-1778 and was held in great esteem by his contemporaries, among them W. A. Mozart with whom Wendling went on a recital tour to Paris in 1778. Among his six flute sonatas Op. 4, the Sonata No. 3 is particularly attractive with its elegant melodic phrasing and charming set of variations in the final movement (Minuetto con Varazioni).