As a composer, Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach, the fifth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, was an influential composer working at a time of transition between his father's Baroque style and the Classical style that followed it. He fell between the cracks buy of musical history. The baroque period was a time of ornate decoration, extravagance and the rise of ever larger ensembles, giving rise to opera and the early orchestra. His style is, in truth, both highly developed and utterly personal. As you can clearly hear in these excellent performances, Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach had his own things to say and a unique way to say them, and the fact that he wasn't Haydn or Mozart doesn't make his music one bit less interesting or enjoyable.
Like his celebrated keyboard sonatas, Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach's Symphonies are an admirable proof of the decisive role he played in the shaping of the classical style. There's been speculation on the non-conformity of the "Berlin Bach", the most famous of the great Johann Sebastian's descendants. But, above all, this music should be listed to for itself because is is the work of a disgracefully under-estimated compose of genius!
This is a great CD of C.P.E.'s work. It's lovely. It's also brand new, factory sealed, and hard to find anywhere else, even overseas.
Product code: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (aka buy C.P.E.) Symphonies / Concerto for Organ & Orchestra CD, Brand New, Factory Sealed