The 'Empfindsam' or 'sentimental' style of music, embodied by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and his contemporaries, was a direct response to the most modern literary and intellectual currents of their time.
Interpretation
The use of harp on this recording is considered appropriate for the 'Empfindsam' style, as C.P.E. Bach himself preferred the clavichord for its dynamic and articulation possibilities over the harpsichord.
Historical Context
The term 'empfindsam' was coined by the poet Lessing when he translated Laurence Sterne's novel "Sentimental Journey" for a Hamburg publisher.
Historical Context
The rise of the middle class in the 18th century led to a rejection of courtly behaviors that suppressed individual emotions, favoring subjective feelings and extreme displays of emotion.
Compositional Technique
Johann Joachim Quantz, a composer and flutist, provided detailed instructions for an Adagio in C Major in his 1752 treatise, advocating for an expressive 'empfindsam' performance style with fine detail and shades of expression.
Instruments
The baroque pedal-harp, tuned in E flat major, was invented around the end of the 17th century to meet the requirements of the new galant style, allowing for a wider range of keys.
Composer Biography
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the most famous son of J.S. Bach, preferred the company of literary figures to musicians and was well-educated in both music and law.
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