C.P.E Bach: Württemberg Sonatas H. 30- H. 36

Featuring

Mahan Esfahani
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

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Cultural Impact

The young Joseph Haydn considered C.P.E. Bach his sole prototype, recognizing the humor and drama in Bach's compositions, such as the final Allegro of the Sonata in B flat major.

Composer's Artistic Vision

C.P.E. Bach's music challenges the simplistic divide between the 'Baroque' and 'Classical' periods, as his Württemberg Sonatas were composed before some of his father's important late works.

Composer Biography

The Sonata in B minor, the last of the set to be written, reflects C.P.E. Bach's dual musical personality, looking forward to new styles while honoring the training he received from his father.

Compositional Technique

In the Sonata in E flat major, C.P.E. Bach uses unprepared chords, both consonant and dissonant, to emphasize the emotional momentum of his melodies, moving beyond Baroque compositional methods.

Performer Biography

Mahan Esfahani, the harpsichordist on this recording, was the first harpsichordist to be named on the BBC's New Generation Artist scheme.

Compositional Technique

The Württemberg Sonatas showcase a new musical language, with the first sonata featuring a combative style, wide melodic ranges, and mood swings characteristic of Sturm und Drang.