(April 2022) Episode 397 is CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL BACH. His music bridged the era between high baroque, represented by his father J.S., and the classical era of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, all of whom were inspired by C.P.E. He was known for being inventive, even quirky, but to my 21st Century ear it can come off as unexciting. Perhaps he unfairly suffers by comparison, falling between my favorites: Bach’s mathematical beauty and Beethoven’s passionate lyricism. He was quite prolific, with almost 900 works to his name (of which I captured about three-quarters, which took 10 weeks), many of which featured the relatively new piano.
Favorite piece: Cello Concerto in A major (H. 439)
Favorite keyboard sonata: C major (H. 163)
Favorite keyboard concerto: F major (H. 470)
Favorite symphony: E flat major (H. 654)
Favorite trio sonata: G major (H. 583)
Favorite short piano piece: L’Aly Rupalic in C Major
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: it’s a pleasant listen but won’t get you out of your chair
Opus Project 