C.P.E. Bach - Wq 17 - Harpsichord Concerto In D Minor

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) is the second surviving son of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was born in Weimar. One of his godfathers was Georg Philipp Telemann.

"Bach is the father. We are the children!" It is well known that Mozart held the composer in the highest esteem and, some would even argue that it was his interest in the contrapuntal, learned style of "Old Sebastian", as he called him, which gave his music its edge. But when Mozart referred to Bach as his musical father, it was in fact not Johann Sebastian he had in mind, but his second son, Carl Philipp Emanuel. Indeed, in the second half of the 18th century, the name "Bach" was almost exclusively associated with the initials "CPE".

He created his own music for these events, but also used existing historical and contemporary music in creative combinations. And he became an active publisher of his own vocal and instrumental music. But above all he sought to establish a new style of music-making, what he called the “sensitive style”, rooted in the emotional life of the musician. In fact, while Johann Sebastian tried to forge a direct connection between the musician and god, C.P.E. sought an emotional connection between the musician and the listener. While C.P.E.’s compositions were still described as “models and exercises in the expression of deep emotions in 1799,” his works gradually passed into oblivion.

"It's like a very varied. colourful painting, full of contrasts," says Amandine Beyer, violinist sand director. Other musicians refer to C.P.E. as "going completely wild," of each bar having a new character. "It's electricity made music" is another quote; "A flurry of gusts followed by a moment of calm"; "C. P. E. Bach is an open door to the unknown; he had discovered ... a thousand colours and a thousand characters"; "there's a crazy side, and a very sweet side too and you never know what's going to happen"; and probably the finest advice: "it is extremely strong music. The more you listen to it, the more wonders you will discover". "Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach is to keyboard playing what Pythagoras is to mathematics," he says, and goes on to call C. P .E. "an initiator, a visionary who evolved throughout his output, ... offering his successors a blueprint for expanding music's emotional horizons"

Emotional Depth That Defied Expectations
Imagine listening to a melody that resonates instantly with your innermost feelings-one that whispers, shouts, and weeps in your soul. C.P.E. Bach accomplished this through his innovative use of expressive contrasts and dynamic shifts, intricately weaving emotional depth into his works. With a keen understanding of the human condition, he crafted music that mirrored life's complex emotional palette, allowing performers to navigate an emotional landscape filled with joy, sorrow, longing, and ecstasy.

His Unique Language of Expression
C.P.E. Bach birthed a musical vocabulary that articulated emotions in previously unimaginable ways. His deft manipulation of tension and release created an immersive experience, connecting listeners to the very soul of music. Imagine walking into a concert hall filled with anticipation, where every phrase played resonates deep within you. This was the experience C.P.E. Bach aimed to evoke, captivating audiences with music rich in contrasts-as thunderous fortissimos meet delicate pianissimos, his work resonates like poignant poetry, profoundly affecting all who hear it.

The symphonies of humanity's emotions, intricately woven by C.P.E. Bach, await rekindling within our hearts.

C.P.E. Bach: The Sentimental Rebel