Album insights
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the fifth of Johann Sebastian Bach's six children with his first wife Maria Barbara, was born in Weimar in 1714. Losing his mother at the age of six, he began attending the Thomasschule in Leipzig at nine, where his father held the position of Kantor. Despite his talent for music, he initially pursued a law degree at Leipzig and Frankfurt an der Oder. In 1738, he declined an opportunity to travel as a private tutor for the son of the Russian ambassador in Dresden to join the musical entourage of the Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich. Bach recounts accompanying Friedrich in his first solo as King in 1740. During his three decades in Friedrich's service, Bach faced strained relations and dissatisfaction, despite his respected compositions.
Friedrich's nightly chamber concerts, overseen by Quantz, showcased a repertoire dominated by Quantz's influence. While Bach composed numerous flute works, Quantz's works demonstrated superiority and affluence. Bach's flute concertos dating back to the late 1740s are awaiting a return from Ukraine to the Berlin Singakademie, offering hope of re-discovering lost treasures. Bach's adaptations for keyboard, cello, and organ reveal intricate alterations of his compositions. His emphasis on articulation and ornamentation is evident in various manuscripts, displaying personal touches in execution. Bach's expressive performance standards uphold a rhetorical delivery and emotional versatility that centralized affecting audiences during his performances. Embodying passion and skill, Bach's ideals encompass a blend of Cantabile and dramatic execution.
The collaboration of manuscript support from esteemed institutions contributed to this production, ensuring fidelity to Bach's compositions and interpretations. The use of historical flutes and a fortepiano in this recording aligns with the era's practices, lending authenticity to the performance. Unveiling newly discovered horn parts for the D minor concerto introduced revelatory dramatic effect and adherence to Bach's principles. The inclusion of such findings and the unwavering support of archivists and scholars were vital in the realization of this project.