Composer. The second son of Johann Sebastian Bach, he rebelled against his father's Baroque technique and became a founder of the Classical movement. For much of the 18th Century he was considered the greatest member of the Bach family. Bach was born in Weimar, Germany, and raised in Cothen and Leipzig. Although he had excellent musical training from his father and was an outstanding keyboard player, he initially resisted the idea of becoming a professional musician. He studied law at the Universities of Leipzig and Frankfurt, and took his degree in 1738. That year, however, he accepted an offer to become harpsichordist to the Crown Prince of Prussia, later Frederick the Great. He served Frederick for 30 years. In 1768 he succeeded his godfather, Telemann, in Hamburg as Music Director for the city's five principle churches, a post he held until his death. Bach was one of the first composers of the 1700s to write music that emphasized harmony rather than contrapuntal Baroque forms. He was skillful in assimilating influences, and the emotional tone of his mature music reflects the "Storm and Stress" movement of German Literature of his time. His 900 compositions include 350 pieces for solo keyboard, over 200 choral and vocal works, 100 concertos for various instruments, a good deal of chamber music, and 20 symphonies. The oratorio "The Israelites in the Wilderness" (1769) is regarded as his masterpiece. He also wrote an important treatise, "Essay on the True Art of Keyboard Playing" (1755). Bach's influence on his Classical successors was considerable. Mozart said of him, "He is the father, and we are his children." Haydn greatly admired him and passed his fondness onto his pupil, Beethoven. Since then C.P.E. Bach's reputation has long been eclipsed by his father's and much of his music is neglected today, though his Flute Concerto in D Minor is still a favorite concert showpiece.

Composer. The second son of Johann Sebastian Bach, he rebelled against his father's Baroque technique and became a founder of the Classical movement. For much of the 18th Century he was considered the greatest member of the Bach family. Bach was born in Weimar, Germany, and raised in Cothen and Leipzig. Although he had excellent musical training from his father and was an outstanding keyboard player, he initially resisted the idea of becoming a professional musician. He studied law at the Universities of Leipzig and Frankfurt, and took his degree in 1738. That year, however, he accepted an offer to become harpsichordist to the Crown Prince of Prussia, later Frederick the Great. He served Frederick for 30 years. In 1768 he succeeded his godfather, Telemann, in Hamburg as Music Director for the city's five principle churches, a post he held until his death. Bach was one of the first composers of the 1700s to write music that emphasized harmony rather than contrapuntal Baroque forms. He was skillful in assimilating influences, and the emotional tone of his mature music reflects the "Storm and Stress" movement of German Literature of his time. His 900 compositions include 350 pieces for solo keyboard, over 200 choral and vocal works, 100 concertos for various instruments, a good deal of chamber music, and 20 symphonies. The oratorio "The Israelites in the Wilderness" (1769) is regarded as his masterpiece. He also wrote an important treatise, "Essay on the True Art of Keyboard Playing" (1755). Bach's influence on his Classical successors was considerable. Mozart said of him, "He is the father, and we are his children." Haydn greatly admired him and passed his fondness onto his pupil, Beethoven. Since then C.P.E. Bach's reputation has long been eclipsed by his father's and much of his music is neglected today, though his Flute Concerto in D Minor is still a favorite concert showpiece.

Biografie von: Bobb Edwards