This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).
I asked ChatGPT4o: "Was C.P.E. Bach influenced by the works of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach?"
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (C.P.E. Bach) is believed to have been influenced by his older brother, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (W.F. Bach). This influence can be inferred from the following points:
Family Environment and Education: Both C.P.E. Bach and W.F. Bach received their musical education from their father, Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach). Their shared upbringing in a musically rich household likely had a significant impact on their musical development. Growing up together, it is highly probable that they inspired each other through performances and compositions.
Shared Styles and Techniques: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was known for his improvisational skills and compositions in free forms. This may have influenced C.P.E. Bach’s transition from the late Baroque to the early Classical period. In particular, C.P.E. Bach’s emotionally expressive style (*Empfindsamer Stil*) might have been inspired by his brother’s freer, more expressive approach.
Exchange of Works: The brothers were familiar with each otherʼs works and occasionally performed together. Through such interactions, C.P.E. Bach may have absorbed W.F. Bach’s compositional techniques and musical ideas.
However, there is limited direct evidence regarding specific works or techniques, making it difficult to precisely measure the extent of this influence. Nevertheless, given their shared family environment and musical education, it is reasonable to assume that C.P.E. Bach was influenced to some degree by his older brother.