Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's compositions are often virtuosic, featuring freedom and capriciousness in harmony, melody, and rhythm, with sudden contrasts of mood and intense personal expression.
Composer Biography
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, the eldest of J.S. Bach's four composer sons, was taught by his father using a manuscript called the Clavierbüchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.
Instruments
The titles of most of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's keyboard works use generic terms like 'clavier' or 'cembalo', suggesting they could be performed on various keyboard instruments of the 18th century.
Composition History
Unlike his brother Carl Philipp Emanuel, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach did not catalogue his compositions, and many of his sonata autographs were undated and unsigned.
Performer Biography
Julia Brown, the harpsichordist on this album, is Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church in Eugene, Oregon, and has performed internationally.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's music combines his father's refined counterpoint with the intensely expressive language of his own generation, making his style unique in German music.
