The sonatas on this album are examples of the mid-18th-century 'galant' style, characterized by pleasant melodies and mostly subordinate left-hand accompaniment.
Instruments
The clavichord used for this recording is a replica of a 1772 instrument by Christian Gottlob Hubert, a famous 18th-century clavichord builder known for his slender, flexible, and rich-sounding instruments.
Interpretation
The recording was made in a small wooden building in the remote Finnish village of Lumijoki, chosen for its deep silence at night, which enhances the clavichord's sound.
Recording & Production
All five sonatas on this album are world premiere recordings.
Composer Biography
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and his colleague Christoph Nichelmann, a harpsichordist, alternated every four weeks as accompanists to Frederick the Great at his new palace, Sans Souci.
Critical Reception
A young law student in 1747 compared Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach to Milton, stating that his music, like Milton's work, needed thorough practice to be appreciated.
Historical Context
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach composed these sonatas during a period of apparent stability between the Second Silesian War and the Seven Years' War, while serving Frederick the Great of Prussia.
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