Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
The second son of the great Johann Sebastian Bach
by his first wife, C.P.E. Bach was recognised as one of the greatest
harpsichordists of his time. After study at university, a privilege
denied his father, he became harpsichordist to the Crown Prince of Prussia,
later Frederick the Great, and left his service in 1767, after the death
of his godfather Telemann,
whom he succeeded as director of music of the five city churches of Hamburg.
He was greatly respected both as a composer and as a friend of some of
the most distinguished writers and thinkers of his time. In 1755 he published
his influential "Essay on the True Art of Playing
Keyboard Instruments".
From his very considerable output his sonatas
for flute and harpsichord remain an attractive part of chamber
music repertoire, with the symphonies
written for Baron van Swieten, "arbiter elegantium" in Vienna, a man whose
taste was generally trusted in artistic matters. Music by C.P.E. Bach is
often listed with a reference number from the catalogue of his works by
Wotquenne (Wq).
He was influential in establishing the form and style of Classic composition,
and he is often credited with being the first to
write in the Sonata-Allegro form (although there is very little
development of themes). There is no doubt that Haydn
and Mozart were influenced by his style.
(see also Empfindsamer stil)