Homepage >
★C.P.E. Bachʼs Musical Works >
C.P.E. Bachʼs Keyboard Solo Works >
Clavierstücke verschiedener Art Wq. 116 >
Minuet in C Major Wq. 116-15
This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).
C. P. E. Bach Minuet in C Major I & II Wq. 116-15 (H. 159)
ChatGPT4o writes as follows (please note that it may not be accurate):
Emanuel Bachʼs Minuet in C Major Wq. 116/15 (H. 159) stands out for its elegance and sophistication among his works. This minuet, with its simple structure, conceals a rich expressiveness, bringing a pleasant harmony to the listener. The light rhythm and bright C major melody maintain the form of a classical dance while conveying a unique character. The diversity of emotions in Emanuel Bachʼs music is condensed into this short piece, offering a glimpse of his masterful compositional technique. For performers, it presents a challenge to convey its charm to the audience through expressive playing.
According to the commentary by Darrell M. Berg on Miklós Spányi's CD (BIS-CD-1329) (translated by ChatGPT4o): ʼFirst published in the large anthology "Musikalisches Mancherley (1762-1763)" in 1762. This score specifies two trumpets, timpani, two transverse flutes, two bassoons, two violins, and basso continuo. The first minuet of the pair is cheerful, characterized by a melody that includes leaps. In contrast, the second minuet makes extensive use of legato, with a smooth melodic line. The keyboard arrangement of this piece is recorded in a large manuscript compiled by Johann Jakob Heinrich Westphal (1746-1825), an organist in Schwerin and an admirer of C. P. E. Bach.ʼ
For an overview of Wq. 116 as a whole, see Character Pieces Wq. 116
.