Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Life and music

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach learned composition and keyboard playing from his father, Johann Sebastian, but developed a career and musical voice of his own. After studying law, he became a harpsichordist for the Prussian crown prince in 1738. His influential keyboard-playing treatise appeared in 1753. In 1768 he moved to Hamburg to succeed his godfather, Georg Philipp Telemann, as music director, taking responsibility for church music and public concerts.

His expressive keyboard writing helped shape the next generation of composers, including Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The E-flat-major Rondo, Wq.61/1 (H.288), is one point of entry: listen for a returning idea and the contrasting music around it. Wq. and H. identify the same work in different catalogues.

Sources

• bachmuseumleipzig.de

Where to start

1. 1Rondo in E-flat major, Wq. 61/1 (H. 288)Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro

More pieces in the Music Room

More pieces

• March in G major, H. 1/3 (BWV Anh. 124)Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in G minor, H. 1/4 (BWV Anh. 125)Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Solo per il cembalo, BWV Anh.129Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro