Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, son of J.S. Bach, began his career as a harpsichordist at the court of Crown Prince Frederick (later King Frederick the Great) in Berlin.
Composition History
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach composed his three quartets for piano, flute, and viola in 1788, the year of his death, commissioned by talented musician Sarah Itzig-Levy.
Composition History
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach only fully expressed his avant-garde principles after moving to Hamburg in 1768, succeeding his godfather Georg Philipp Telemann as Direktor Musices.
Compositional Technique
The viola's use in these quartets was uncommon for chamber music of the time, providing a deeper, more ample sound that perfectly complemented the flute's clarity.
Performer Biography
The ensemble Nevermind, founded in 2013 by Anna Besson, Louis Creac'h, Robin Pharo, and Jean Rondeau, performs repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Critical Reception
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach is an incredible musician whose true value is now being recognized, though he has historically received less support than other monumental figures of musical classicism.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach adhered to the aesthetic of Empfindsamkeit, a style closely linking music with feeling, which contrasted with King Frederick the Great's preference for the more 'staid, less turbulent 'style galant'.
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Mancini: Xii Solos Vol. 1 [recorder Sonatas], for a Flute with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsicord (London: J. Barrett & W. Smith)
