The performer, Miklós Spányi, chose to divide Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's character pieces across three non-consecutive CDs, framing them with sonatas, rather than presenting them all on one disc.
Compositional Technique
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach assigned the feminine article 'la' to all titles of his character pieces, continuing a French tradition, even though most of the 'originals' (the people they were named after) were men.
Historical Context
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach composed a significant number of works during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), a period of political instability when his employer, King Friedrich II of Prussia, was engaged in battle.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's character pieces for solo keyboard were modeled after the French pièce de caractère, and he named many after his friends and acquaintances.
Instruments
The clavichord used for this recording is a 1999 facsimile of a 1785 instrument by Gottfried Joseph Horn, which is now in the Musikinstrumentenmuseum in Leipzig.
Composer Biography
Despite the war, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was well-paid for his works and supported himself better than most musicians at the Prussian court, according to Carl Friedrich Zelter's biography of Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch.
Performer Biography
Miklós Spányi, the performer, has concentrated his research and performance work on the oeuvre of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and has actively worked to revive the clavichord, Bach's favorite instrument.
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