Page 122 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

120

WE MUST PLAY FROM

THE SOUL, NOT LIKE

TRAINED BIRDS

FLUTE CONCERTO IN A MAJOR, WQ 168 (1753),
CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL BACH

n 1738, the young C.P.E., or status of servants, and had to write
IN CONTEXT Emanuel, Bach was appointed and play music that suited their
I court harpsichordist in the employer’s tastes.
FOCUS household of the Crown Prince
A new freedom Frederick of Prussia. Two years later The king calls the tune
of expression
the prince acceded to the throne Frederick was an accomplished
BEFORE and became known as Frederick flautist. Emanuel was therefore
1750 C.P.E. Bach writes a the Great as his power increased. junior to the much better paid court
setting of the Magnificat in Emanuel, as Bach was known, flautist Johann Joachim Quantz
a style like that of J.S. Bach, traveled with the court to Berlin, and had the task of accompanying
possibly in a bid to secure his where he lived as a court musician the king in court concerts. He was
father’s former job as cantor of for 28 years. The best keyboard also expected to compose music for
the Thomasschule in Leipzig. player of his generation, he Frederick to play—pieces such as
attracted widespread admiration his Flute Concerto in A major. To
AFTER but never felt truly valued. Court save time, Emanuel took concertos
1772 Joseph Haydn writes his musicians of the time had the that he had written for another
Symphony No. 44, the “Trauer”
(Mourning) symphony, a Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
masterpiece of the portrayal of
emotion in orchestral music. The second keyboard instruments. He is,
surviving son however, best known for the
1777 Johann Christian Bach, of Johann symphonies and concertos in a
Emanuel’s younger brother, Sebastian highly personal and emotional
publishes his Op. 13 Keyboard Bach, Emanuel style that were written later
Concertos, almost the musical was born in in his career. Emanuel died in
opposite of Emanuel’s Weimar, Germany, in 1714. His Hamburg in 1788, aged 74.
dramatic, emotional music. father nurtured his son’s gift
for the harpsichord. Other key works
1779 C.P.E. Bach begins to Emanuel studied law before
publish his series of rondos devoting all his time to music. 1749 Magnificat in D, Wq 215
and other solo keyboard works In the service of Frederick the 1775–1776 Symphonies, Wq 183
that mark the high point of his Great from 1740, he composed 1783–1787 Keyboard Sonatas,
“emotional” musical style. works for the court musicians Fantasias and Rondos, Wq 58,
and wrote a treatise on playing 59, 61

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