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This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).

Bachʼs Sons

Here is a brief introduction to Johann Sebastian Bachʼs sons who became composers. Click on each name for more details.

ChatGPT4o writes as follows (please note that it may not be accurate):

Among Johann Sebastian Bach’s (J.S. Bach) sons, four are well-known as composers. Below is an overview of each.

1. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710–1784) J.S. Bach’s eldest son received rigorous musical training from his father. He was highly individualistic in style and was especially renowned for his improvisational skills. However, his professional life was unstable, leading to financial struggles. His works include fantasias and polonaises for keyboard instruments, as well as sacred cantatas.
2. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) J.S. Bach’s second son was active in Berlin and Hamburg. He was a central figure of the *Empfindsamer Stil* (sensitive style) and is particularly famous for his keyboard sonatas, concertos, and sacred music. His treatise, *Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments*, was an important instructional book of the time.
3. Johann Christian Bach (1735–1782) The youngest son of J.S. Bach, he is known as the "London Bach." He studied music in Italy and later flourished in London as an opera composer and conductor. His music, characterized by its light and cheerful style, greatly influenced Mozart. His symphonies, concertos, and operas are particularly well-regarded.
4. Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732–1795) Known as the "Bückeburg Bach," he served as Kapellmeister at the Bückeburg court. His music reflects the transitional period between the Baroque and Classical styles. His primary works include chamber music, sacred music, and compositions for keyboard instruments.

These four sons, while influenced by their father J.S. Bach, each developed distinct musical styles. Their works are significant as they symbolize the transition from the Baroque to the Classical era.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was listed as a candidate to succeed Telemann as the music director in Hamburg and ultimately secured the position. About a decade later, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, known as the "Bückeburg Bach," visited London with his son to meet Johann Christian Bach. His son remained in London to study under his uncle. Additionally, communication with Wilhelm Friedemann Bach continued, and some of his works were included in collections published by Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach for amateur musicians, though these collections mainly consisted of J.C.F. Bach’s own compositions. Some scholars suggest that the death of C.P.E. Bach in 1788 may have triggered a mild depressive state, potentially contributing to the severity of J.C.F. Bachʼs final illness.

For these composers, maintaining family bonds was a long-standing tradition even before J.S. Bach’s youth, yet this did not translate into musical dependency. Though all four brothers were recognized as significant musicians, each composed in a clearly distinct style and maintained strong personal and musical independence. An especially interesting anecdote is a remark attributed to Johann Christian Bach, the "London Bach," when comparing himself to his brother Carl Philipp Emanuel: “My brother lives to compose, and I compose to live.” Nevertheless, even the elder brothers, in some ways, relied on composition for their livelihoods. According to his own account, much of C.P.E. Bachʼs music was written with practical purposes in mind. The three works included on this disc demonstrate C.P.E. Bach’s practical approach to music-making, all of which also exist in versions arranged for different ensembles and situations.

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