Main content

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Donald Macleod tells the story of the loss - and later rediscovery - of CPE Bach’s music

Donald Macleod tells the story of the loss - and later rediscovery - of CPE Bach’s music

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was many things in his lifetime: composer, virtuoso harpsichord player and improviser extraordinaire, author, businessman – publishing his own music – biographer – of his father and other members of his family, and teacher. This week we look at CPE Bach's music and reputation in the light of the sensational rediscovery of much of his archive in 1999. Throughout the episode we'll hear recent recordings of this 'new' music. We’ll learn about CPE’s musical crowd-funding, his emotive Empfindsamer style, his life in Hamburg, and how the discovery has changed the way Bach and his music is seen in 2019.

Music featured:
L'Aly Rupalich, Wq 117 No 27
Keyboard Concerto in D minor, Wq 23
Heilig, Wq 217
Flute concerto in D Major, Wq 13
Solfeggio in C Minor, Wq 117 No 2
Free Fantasie in F sharp minor, Wq 67
Licht der Welt, von Gott gegeben, H 811 (Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe)
Rondo II in D Minor, Wq 61 No 4
Flute Sonata in A minor, Wq 132
Solfeggio in C Minor
Symphony in D Major, Wq 183 No 1
Fantasia No. 2 in C Major, Wq 59 No 6
Wer ist so würdig als du; Ach, ruft mich einst zu seinen Freuden, H 805 (Nun danket alle Gott)
Sonata in C Minor, Wq 78
Morgengesang am Schöpfungsfeste, W 239
Magnificat anima mea Dominum, Et misericordia eius, Gloria Patri et Filio, Sicut erat in principio (Magnificat, Wq 215)
Quartet in D Major, Wq 94
Rondo in A minor Wq 56 No 5
Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, Wq 240 (Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu)
Leite mich nach deinem Willen, H 835
Cello Concerto in A major, Wq 172 (2nd mvt)
Symphony in B minor, Wq 182 No 5
Sonata in C major, Wq 55 No 1 (Für Kenner und Liebhaber)
Double Concerto for harpsichord and fortepiano in E Flat major, Wq 47

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Iain Chambers for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for CPE Bach

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Release date:

Available now

1 hour, 5 minutes

More episodes

Next

Coming soon

See all episodes from Composer of the Week

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.