Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - Solfeggio (Solfeggietto) (Piano Solo) Book

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach?

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) was a German composer and musician, and one of the sons of Johann Sebastian Bach, the renowned Baroque composer. Often simply referred to as C.P.E. Bach, he is known as one of the key figures of the transitional period between the Baroque and Classical eras in Western music. He was highly influential in his own right, contributing significantly to the development of keyboard music, especially the piano sonata, the symphony, and the concerto. His works influenced later composers, including Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart.

C.P.E. Bach was born in Weimar and was initially taught by his father. Later, he studied law in Frankfurt an der Oder, but he eventually devoted himself fully to music. He worked for nearly 30 years as a harpsichordist at the court of Frederick the Great in Berlin, a position that made him famous but not particularly satisfied. In 1768, he succeeded his godfather, Georg Philipp Telemann, as the director of music in Hamburg, a role he retained until his death.

His compositions, including the famous "Solfeggio" or "Solfeggietto," were groundbreaking in their use of expressive devices in keyboard music. He also wrote essays and introductions to his own works to explain his innovative techniques, making him not just a composer but also an important music theorist of his time. His "Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments" is considered a significant treatise on music and performance practice.

C.P.E. Bach's music is often characterised by its emotional intensity, intricate detail, and the frequent use of dynamic changes, which were rather innovative for his time. It reflects the ideals of the "Empfindsamer Stil" or "sensitive style," which aimed to express "true and natural" feelings in music.