This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).
Movements:
The Sonatina in D Major (Wq 109) is divided into eight short movements and is structured into two long sections based on the rondo form. The first section consists of rapid dance-like movements and ariosos, while the final section is closer to the traditional ABA form, with a particular emphasis on dance elements. This work was designed with the 18th-century Berlin audience in mind and bears the characteristic features of Emanuel Bachʼs sonatinas.
The soloists intertwine while maintaining independence, complementing each other, with particular attention to the scenes where two keyboard instruments play together. Additionally, the Double Concerto in E-flat Major (Wq 47), composed by Emanuel in his later years, is a rare work written for harpsichord and fortepiano, with its patron believed to be Sara Itzig Levy.
Sara Levy was born into a prominent Jewish family, possessed musical talent, and was the only student of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Her collection of scores included many works by the Bach family, particularly those of Emanuel Bach. There was a culture of enjoying music within the family, and it is possible that she and her sisters performed these works together.
Emanuelʼs Double Concerto skillfully utilizes the different timbres of the solo instruments and reflects the characteristics of his Hamburg period. A diverse orchestral arrangement, including horns, flutes, and strings, is used, and a wide range of expressions is developed in the solo keyboard parts. These elements position this work as the conclusion of the series.