Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

This day, March 8, is the birthday of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788), or simply, C.P.E. Bach. He is the second son of Johann Sebastian Bach by his first wife, and second to his father in terms of musical significance.   Another famous Baroque composer, Georg Philipp Telemann, was his godfather.

C.P.E. was educated at Thomasschule, Leipzig, then at the University of Frankfurt-on-Oder. In 1740, when he was 26, he was appointed cembalist in the Kapelle of Frederick the Great, himself a flautist. While at court he wrote 2 volumes on the art of piano playing technique. He succeeded his godfather Telemann as master of 5 principal churches in Hamburg, Germany.  

Through his music and concert performances, C.P.E. helped to establish a leading solo role for the piano in Western music. He may as well be regarded as the founder of modern piano-playing.

C.P.E. Bach introduced a new 'homophonic' style, which influenced his famous successors Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. C.P.E. Bach's works include more than 200 solo clavier pieces, many concertos with orchestral accompaniment, passions, cantatas, and sonatas.

Link: Brief biography of C.P.E. Bach

Suggested CDs:

• C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concertos / Hugh, Studt, Bournemoth CD
• C.P.E. Bach: Complete Flute Concertos / Gallois, et al - Carl Philipp E. Bach - CD – 855571516
• BACH, C.P.E. / BACH, J.S.: Pieces for Fortepiano and Clavichord
  
  

Fine Music Till Dawn