Top > The Compositional Style of C.P.E. Bach > The Influence of Scarlatti on C.P.E. Bach

This site introduces unknown composer Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach). This English version was translated from Japanese one by ChatGPT.

The Influence of Scarlatti on C.P.E. Bach

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Did Emanuel Bach get influenced by Scarlatti? If so, in what ways?"

Emanuel Bach (C.P.E. Bach) was indeed influenced by Domenico Scarlatti. Scarlatti, a composer from the Baroque era, had a significant impact on later generations of composers. The influence of Scarlatti on Emanuel Bach can be seen in the following aspects:

1. Keyboard Technique and Expression: Scarlatti is known for his virtuosic passages, arpeggios, trills, and cross-hand techniques on the keyboard. These techniques are also evident in Emanuel Bachʼs works, particularly in his clavier compositions, where the technical difficulty and expressiveness are enhanced.

2. Musical Form and Structure: Scarlattiʼs sonatas are in a single-movement form, incorporating free structures and improvisational elements. Emanuel Bachʼs music also features free forms and improvisational elements, which are considered to be influenced by Scarlatti.

3. Emotional Expression and Nuance: Scarlattiʼs music is rich in nuance and emotional expression, and Emanuel Bach adopted this influence, incorporating a style that skillfully expresses emotional fluctuations and dynamics. Notably, Emanuel Bachʼs “Empfindsamkeit” (sensitive style) is said to be influenced by Scarlatti.

4. Harmony and Melody: Scarlatti often used bold harmonic progressions and unexpected melodies. Emanuel Bach also favored unique harmonic progressions and melodies, which became a hallmark of his music.

Listening to Emanuel Bachʼs works reveals techniques and expressions influenced by Scarlatti, making Scarlattiʼs influence an important element in understanding how his music evolved and formed its unique style.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Who and where has pointed out that Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit style was influenced by Scarlatti?"

The specific assertion that Emanuel Bachʼs “Empfindsamkeit” (sensitive style) was influenced by Domenico Scarlatti has been made by musicologists and researchers. However, this is a generally accepted view and is often mentioned in specific papers and books.

Representative Literature and Researchers

1. Charles Burney: An 18th-century musicologist, Charles Burney, mentioned the richness of emotional expression and technical innovation in keyboard instruments in Emanuel Bachʼs music. In his work “A General History of Music,” he touches on Bachʼs musical style and its background and influences.

2. Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg: An 18th-century music theorist, Marpurg detailed Emanuel Bachʼs sensitive style and discussed how it developed. In his work “Kritische Briefe über die Tonkunst,” he addresses Bachʼs style and its influences.

3. Ralph Kirkpatrick: A 20th-century authority on Scarlatti studies, Kirkpatrick researched the influence of Scarlattiʼs music on later composers. In his book “Domenico Scarlatti,” he details how Scarlattiʼs keyboard techniques influenced later composers, including Emanuel Bach.

Specific Papers and Books

• “The Keyboard Music of C.P.E. Bach” by David Schulenberg: Schulenbergʼs work provides a detailed analysis of Emanuel Bachʼs keyboard music style and influences, mentioning Scarlattiʼs influence.

• “C.P.E. Bach: His Life and Works” by Martin Geck: Geckʼs biographical work touches on the formation of Emanuel Bachʼs musical style and discusses Scarlattiʼs influence.

Through these works and the writings of these researchers, it is pointed out that Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit style was influenced by Scarlatti. By referring to specific pages or chapters of these documents, one can confirm detailed analyses and specific examples.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "While Emanuel Bach was influenced by Scarlatti, what are the unique developments or techniques he created that differ from Scarlattiʼs music?"

Emanuel Bach (C.P.E. Bach), while influenced by Domenico Scarlatti, developed his own unique style and techniques. Below are examples of Emanuel Bachʼs unique developments and techniques that differ from Scarlattiʼs music.

1. Empfindsamkeit (Sensitive Style)

Emanuel Bach developed the “Empfindsamkeit,” a music style rich in sensitivity. This style focuses on emotional expression and nuance, characterized by expressing subtle emotional movements through music.

Characteristics:

• Sudden Emotional Changes: Sudden changes in dynamics and unexpected modulations are frequently used, emphasizing dramatic emotional expression.
• Nuanced Subtlety: Delicate articulations and ornaments are used to pursue subtle emotional expression.

2. Free-Style Keyboard Music

Emanuel Bach composed keyboard music incorporating free forms and improvisational elements. His music includes unique phrases and rhythmic changes, highlighting his individuality.

Examples:

• “Prussian Sonatas” (1750-51) and **“Württemberg Sonatas”** (1742-44) emphasize free forms and improvisational elements.

3. Use of the Clavichord

Emanuel Bach maximized the characteristics of the clavichord, a keyboard instrument. This instrument allows for subtle dynamics and expression, suitable for Bachʼs delicate emotional expression.

Characteristics:

• Bebung: A clavichord-specific ornamentation technique that creates a subtle vibrato effect by continuing to press the keys.
• Sensitivity of Touch: He used the sensitive touch of the clavichord to add subtle nuances to the music.

4. Theoretical Contributions

Emanuel Bach also made significant contributions to music theory. His book “Versuch über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen” (Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments) provided important guidelines for keyboard performance at the time and greatly influenced later music education.

Contents:

• Technical Guidance: It includes detailed guidance on keyboard techniques and performance methods.
• Emphasis on Expression: It is rich in advice on emotional expression and nuance, not just technique.

5. Innovations in Harmony and Counterpoint

Emanuel Bach took a unique approach to harmony and counterpoint. His works combine complex harmonic progressions and contrapuntal elements, showing significant innovations during the transition from the Baroque to the Classical period.

Characteristics:

• Bold Harmonic Progressions: Unexpected modulations and bold use of harmony are evident.
• Contrapuntal Innovations: Contrapuntal elements are incorporated throughout, forming complex musical structures.

Through these elements, Emanuel Bach developed his own musical style and techniques, establishing a unique position in music history while being influenced by Scarlatti.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit style seems to have developed under the influence of Scarlatti, but does it include elements not found in Scarlattiʼs music?"

Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit (sensitive style), while influenced by Scarlatti, includes unique elements. Below are some distinctive features of Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit that are not found in Scarlattiʼs music.

1. Depth and Nuance of Emotional Expression

Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit pursues very delicate and complex emotional expression, which differs from Scarlattiʼs works.

Characteristics:

• Sudden Emotional Changes: Unlike Scarlattiʼs works, sudden changes in dynamics and unexpected modulations are frequently used, resulting in more dramatic emotional expression.
• Subtle Nuances: Emanuel Bachʼs works are rich in delicate articulations and ornaments, expressing subtle emotional changes.

2. Freedom of Musical Structure and Form

Emanuel Bach explored musical structures with more freedom and improvisational elements.

Characteristics:

• Free Form: His sonatas and free-style works feature improvisational elements and irregular structures, providing more expressive freedom in music.
• Complex Phrasing: Compared to Scarlattiʼs regular phrases, Emanuel Bachʼs phrases are often unpredictable, with unique rhythm and melodic development.

3. Innovations in Harmony and Counterpoint

Emanuel Bach took a unique approach to harmony and counterpoint.

Characteristics:

• Bold Harmonic Progressions: Emanuel Bachʼs works frequently feature unexpected modulations and bold harmonic progressions, adding unique color to the music.
• Complex Counterpoint: His music includes complex contrapuntal elements, developed uniquely while using Baroque contrapuntal techniques.

4. Performance Techniques Utilizing the Clavichordʼs Characteristics

Emanuel Bach maximized the characteristics of the clavichord. While Scarlatti mainly used the harpsichord, Emanuel Bach utilized the subtle dynamics and expressiveness of the clavichord.

Characteristics:

• Bebung: A technique unique to the clavichord, allowing for subtle vibrato by continuing to press the keys, enabling more delicate emotional expression.
• Sensitivity of Touch: He used the sensitive touch of the clavichord to add subtle nuances to the music.

Representative Works

• Clavier Sonata H. 16, Wq. 49/1 (1775):

  • This sonata is rich in emotional changes and nuances, characterized by sudden changes in dynamics and unexpected modulations.

• “Prussian Sonatas” (1750-51):

  • Emphasizes free form and improvisational elements, showcasing Emanuel Bachʼs unique style.

• “Württemberg Sonatas” (1742-44):

  • Combines complex harmonic progressions and contrapuntal elements, demonstrating Bachʼs technical innovations.

While influenced by Scarlatti, Emanuel Bach developed these unique features, establishing an important and unique style in music history.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Both Scarlatti and Emanuel Bach are said to have music rich in nuance and emotional expression, but what are the differences in nuance and emotional expression between them?"

The music of Domenico Scarlatti and Emanuel Bach is rich in nuance and emotional expression, yet each has its unique characteristics and differences.

Scarlattiʼs Nuance and Emotional Expression

1. Technical Sophistication:

   • Scarlattiʼs works are characterized by technically advanced passages such as cross-hand, rapid scales, and arpeggios, creating dynamic expression in the music.
   • Technical virtuosity becomes part of emotional expression, leaving a strong impression on the listener.

2. Rhythmic Diversity:

   • Scarlattiʼs sonatas are rich in rhythmic diversity, often influenced by dance rhythms and Spanish folk music, bringing lively emotions to the music.

3. Ornamentation and Improvisation:

   • Frequent use of ornaments, trills, and mordents adds brilliance and improvisation to the music.
   • These ornaments enrich the musicʼs nuances, allowing the performerʼs personality to be expressed.

4. Clarity of Harmony:

   • Scarlattiʼs harmonic progressions are relatively simple and clear, often resulting in direct emotional expression.

Emanuel Bachʼs Nuance and Emotional Expression

1. Depth and Change of Emotion:

   • Emanuel Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit is characterized by sudden emotional changes, including sudden changes in dynamics and unexpected modulations, emphasizing dramatic emotional movements.
   • Emotional expression is very delicate, with music rich in nuance.

2. Free Form and Phrasing:

   • His music incorporates free forms and improvisational elements, resulting in a more natural flow of emotions in the music.
   • Phrasing is often unpredictable, with unique rhythm and melodic development.

3. Characteristics of the Clavichord:

   • Emanuel Bach frequently used the clavichord, utilizing its subtle dynamics and expressiveness. The unique technique of Bebung adds a subtle vibrato effect to the sound, expressing emotional depth.

4. Complex Harmony and Counterpoint:

   • His music includes complex harmonic progressions and counterpoint, adding rich depth to emotional expression.
   • Positioned in the transition from Baroque to Classical, his music also makes bold attempts in harmonic progressions.

Summary of Comparison

• Technique and Expression: Scarlatti expresses emotions through technical sophistication and clear harmony, while Emanuel Bach focuses on the depth and change of emotions, using more complex harmony and counterpoint.
• Rhythm and Form: Scarlatti adds improvisational elements to music through rhythmic diversity and ornamentation, while Emanuel Bach expresses the natural flow of emotions through free form and unpredictable phrasing.
• Characteristics of Instruments: Scarlatti mainly uses the harpsichord, utilizing its clear tone, while Emanuel Bach uses the clavichord to pursue subtle dynamics and expressiveness.

Thus, while both have music rich in nuance and emotional expression, each has its distinctiveness.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Emanuel Bachʼs music is said to incorporate free forms and improvisational elements, but arenʼt these also features of Scarlattiʼs music? What are the differences between the two?"

Emanuel Bach and Domenico Scarlattiʼs music share the incorporation of free forms and improvisational elements, but each has its unique differences. Below are specific differences:

1. Freedom of Structure and Form

Scarlatti

• Single-Movement Sonatas: Scarlattiʼs keyboard sonatas are primarily single-movement, following a certain structure while having free forms.
• Symmetrical Form: Many sonatas are written in binary form (A-B form), with the A section often being repeated, providing stability and balance to his music.

Emanuel Bach

• Diverse Movement Structures: Emanuel Bachʼs sonatas often consist of multiple movements, each with different tempos and characters.
• Free Development: Bachʼs works frequently feature unpredictable developments, sudden modulations, and dramatic changes in dynamics, emphasizing improvisational elements.

2. Emotional Expression and Nuance

Scarlatti

• Clear and Direct Expression: Scarlattiʼs emotional expression is relatively direct, conveying emotions through ornaments and technical passages.
• Ethnic Elements: Influences from Spanish folk music and dance rhythms are incorporated, characterized by lively emotional expression.

Emanuel Bach

• Complex and Subtle Emotional Expression: Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit pursues complex emotional changes and subtle nuances, emphasizing emotional depth and diversity.
• Sudden Emotional Changes: Frequent use of sudden modulations and dramatic changes in dynamics, characterized by dramatic emotional expression.

3. Technical Features

Scarlatti

• Cross-Hand Technique: Scarlatti frequently uses cross-hand, rapid scales, and arpeggios, characterized by technically advanced passages.
• Frequent Use of Ornaments: Rich ornaments enhance the musicʼs brilliance and improvisation.

Emanuel Bach

• Delicate Touch and Expression: Utilizing the characteristics of the clavichord, subtle dynamics and Bebung are used for delicate expression.
• Improvisational Elements: Many improvisational phrases and rhythmic changes highlight the performerʼs individuality.

4. Harmony and Counterpoint

Scarlatti

• Clear Harmony: Harmony is relatively simple and clear, often following standard Baroque harmonic progressions.
• Use of Counterpoint: Counterpoint is less frequent, focusing mainly on melodic ornamentation and harmonic richness.

Emanuel Bach

• Complex Harmonic Progressions: Bachʼs works include bold harmonic progressions and unexpected modulations, adding unique color to the music.
• Contrapuntal Innovations: Complex contrapuntal elements are incorporated during the transition from Baroque to Classical.

Summary of Comparison

• Form and Structure: Scarlatti mainly uses single-movement sonata form with symmetrical structure, while Emanuel Bach emphasizes multi-movement form with more free development and improvisation.
• Emotional Expression: Scarlattiʼs emotional expression is clear and direct, while Bach pursues complex and subtle emotional changes.
• Technique and Ornamentation: Scarlatti frequently uses technical ornamentation and cross-hand techniques, while Bach emphasizes the delicate touch of the clavichord and improvisational elements.
• Harmony and Counterpoint: Scarlattiʼs harmony is simple and clear, while Bachʼs harmony includes complex and bold progressions, with innovative counterpoint.

These differences allow Scarlatti and Emanuel Bach to establish their unique musical styles, each with its charm and characteristics.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Didnʼt Emanuel Bach also use the cross-hand technique like Scarlatti?"

Emanuel Bach did indeed use the cross-hand technique, but its usage and musical context differ from Scarlattiʼs. Below is a detailed explanation of the use of the cross-hand technique by both and their differences.

Scarlattiʼs Cross-Hand Technique

1. Technical Showmanship:

   • Scarlattiʼs sonatas frequently feature the cross-hand technique, used as a dazzling passage to showcase the performerʼs skill. This is a prominent feature of his works, posing a technical challenge to performers.

2. Entertainment Element:

   • The cross-hand technique also functions as an entertainment element to visually delight the audience. In Scarlattiʼs court performances, such visual techniques were emphasized.

3. Specific Examples:

   • Sonata K.27 (L.449) in D minor: Features complex passages including cross-hand.
   • Sonata K.141 (L.422) in D minor: Notable for fast tremolos and cross-hand.

Emanuel Bachʼs Cross-Hand Technique

1. Use as Part of Emotional Expression:

   • Emanuel Bach uses the cross-hand technique as part of emotional expression. It is often used to emphasize the dramatic development of the music and emotional changes rather than technical showmanship.

2. Diversity of Performance:

   • His cross-hand technique is used as part of a free performance style that includes improvisational elements. Emanuel Bach emphasized improvisational performance and playing according to the emotions of the moment.

3. Specific Examples:

   • Sonata H. 24 (Wq. 63/6) in F minor: Uses cross-hand to enhance emotional expression.
   • Sonata H. 16 (Wq. 49/1) in A minor: Features cross-hand technique within delicate expression.

Summary of Comparison

• Technical Intent:

  • Scarlatti: Cross-hand emphasizes technical showmanship and visual effects, enhancing the musicʼs brilliance.
  • Emanuel Bach: Cross-hand is used as a means of emotional expression, emphasizing the drama and depth of emotions in the music.

• Frequency and Context of Use:

  • Scarlatti: Cross-hand frequently appears in many sonatas, playing a significant role as a technical challenge.
  • Emanuel Bach: The frequency of use is not as high, and it is used as part of improvisational elements and emotional expression.

• Specific Techniques:

  • Scarlatti: Many rapid passages and complex arpeggios include cross-hand.
  • Emanuel Bach: The use of cross-hand in emotional climaxes and dramatic scenes is characteristic.

Thus, while there are commonalities in the cross-hand technique of both, there are also clear differences according to their respective musical styles and purposes.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Did Emanuel Bach learn Scarlattiʼs music through published scores, or did he learn it in other ways?"

Regarding how Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (C.P.E. Bach) learned Domenico Scarlattiʼs music, both published scores and other methods are conceivable.

Published Scores

1. Availability of Scores:

   • During Scarlattiʼs lifetime, many of his works remained in manuscript form, but some were published posthumously. By the mid-18th century, Scarlattiʼs keyboard sonatas began to spread in printed form. For example, Scarlattiʼs “Essercizi per Gravicembalo” was published in 1738 and became one of his most widely known works.

2. Proliferation of Printed Scores:

   • C.P.E. Bach may have encountered Scarlattiʼs music through the printed scores that were becoming more widespread at the time. During his era, the development of printing technology increased the distribution of scores, including Scarlattiʼs works.

Other Methods

1. Interaction Among Musicians:

   • Baroque musicians often traveled across Europe and interacted with other musicians. C.P.E. Bach also had opportunities to connect with many musicians, allowing him to learn Scarlattiʼs style and techniques directly.

2. Manuscript Scores:

   • Scarlattiʼs music was circulated as manuscript scores, shared among musicians. C.P.E. Bach may have known and learned Scarlattiʼs works through manuscript scores.

3. Music Education and Instruction:

   • C.P.E. Bach received rigorous music education from his father, Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach). J.S. Bach himself may have been exposed to Scarlattiʼs works, and this influence could have been passed on to C.P.E. Bach.

Specific Examples of Influence

1. Improvisational Elements and Free Form:

   • C.P.E. Bachʼs Empfindsamkeit (sensitive style) was influenced by Scarlattiʼs improvisational elements and free form. His sonatas and free-style works incorporate Scarlattiʼs techniques.

2. Richness of Emotional Expression:

   • C.P.E. Bachʼs works reflect the richness of Scarlattiʼs emotional expression, making his music more individualistic and emotionally rich.

References

1. Ralph Kirkpatrick: “Domenico Scarlatti” (1953)
   • Includes detailed research on Scarlattiʼs life and works.
2. Charles Burney: “A General History of Music” (1776-1789)
   • Touches on the history of Baroque music and Scarlattiʼs influence.
3. Barry Cooper: “Beethoven” (2000)
   • Includes analysis of Bachʼs influence on Beethovenʼs music.

Through these factors, C.P.E. Bach learned Scarlattiʼs music and incorporated his style into his works. His music reflects Scarlattiʼs influence, showing commonalities in their techniques and styles.

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