C.P.E. BACH: The Best of [CD de audio] Various and C.P.E. Bach

This ensemble brings together the best of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, a composer who achieved considerable fame in his own lifetime and who was in fact much more highly regarded than his father. Contemporary references always referred to him, rather than Johann Sebastian, as the great Bach. The second eldest of four children, Emanuel's reputation diminished somewhat during the course of the 19th century, when Mendelssohn's revival of his father's Matthew Passion led to a rise in appreciation of Emanuel's mastery of music. this genius. Today, however, with the revival of interest in 18th-century music, his status has been revised and he is now recognized as a significant composer in his own right, the author of a boldly original and innovative style. The two albums reveal that CPE composed in practically all genres except opera. A substantial part of his career was spent working for the flutist Frederick the Great, and his chamber music reflected the conservative tastes of his patron, which was effectively a restriction on the composer's experimental spirit. With works such as the Hamburg Symphonies and keyboard sonatas, however, CPE Bach was able to unleash all facets of his musical talent; The empfindsamer Stil, of which he was an important pioneer, is particularly evident in these later works, which number more than 300 in total. Also included in this compilation are a variety of concertos (oboe, cello and flute) and several cantatas (including Anbetung der Ermbarmer and Heilig), all composed for the most popular points of the church year. Indeed, it was after succeeding his godfather Telemann as director of music in Hamburg that Emanuel was able to devote more of his energies to composing ceremonial music for the church, and for many the crowning achievement of his career is the oratorio Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesus , a work of sumptuous grandeur that gained high recognition beyond the city of Hamburg during Emanuel's lifetime. A wonderful array of talent comes together for this compilation, featuring many ensembles and performance artists of the era, such as Das Kleine Konzert and Pieter-Jan Belder, who have made Bach's music their primary study. The works are taken from Brilliant Classics ' enormous CPE Bach edition and form the basis of a perfect introduction to one of the most versatile and talented composers of the 18th century.