Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) was the second surviving son of Johann Sebastian by his first wife, Maria Barbara. He was by far the most famous of Bach’s sons in the 18th century. Unlike most budding composers of the time, he did not travel and study in Italy. He studied Law at Leipzig University and also at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder. His only music teacher was his father and he proved a prodigiously talented student, being able to play at sight the most complicated of his father’s keyboard compositions. He was employed by Frederick the Great for nearly 30 years as his harpsichordist but was treated rather shoddily being paid only a tenth of the salary of J.J. Quantz, who was also in Frederick’s musical entourage. Eventually this led to a difficult relationship with Frederick who finally released him from his duties so he could take up the post of Kapellmeister in Hamburg which had become vacant on the death of Telemann. Maybe because of the insular nature of his study of composition he developed an extraordinarily personal style. Although credited with the general development of the “Empfindsamer Stil’, which fostered the juxtaposition of extreme emotions, he nevertheless managed to produce totally unique and instantly recognizable works quite unlike any of his contemporaries.

Fountayne Editions, 62 Fountayne Road, London N16 7DT
Email: info@fountayneeditions.co.uk Why not visit Fountayne Pops?