Pieter-Jan Belder - C.P.E. Bach: Preussische und Württembergische Sonaten (2012)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Preussische Sonata, No. 1 in F Major, Wq. 48/1: I. Poco allegro
02. Preussische Sonata, No. 1 in F Major, Wq. 48/1: II. Andante
03. Preussische Sonata, No. 1 in F Major, Wq. 48/1: III. Vivace
04. Preussische Sonata, No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Wq. 48/2: I. Vivace
05. Preussische Sonata, No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Wq. 48/2: II. Adagio
06. Preussische Sonata, No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Wq. 48/2: III. Allegro assai
07. Preussische Sonata, No. 3 in E Major, Wq. 48/3: I. Poco allegro
08. Preussische Sonata, No. 3 in E Major, Wq. 48/3: II. Adagio
09. Preussische Sonata, No. 3 in E Major, Wq. 48/3: III. Presto
10. Preussische Sonata, No. 4 in C Minor, Wq. 48/4: I. Allegro
11. Preussische Sonata, No. 4 in C Minor, Wq. 48/4: II. Adagio
12. Preussische Sonata, No. 4 in C Minor, Wq. 48/4: III. Presto
13. Preussische Sonata, No. 5 in C Major, Wq. 48/5: I. Poco allegro
14. Preussische Sonata, No. 5 in C Major, Wq. 48/5: II. Andante
15. Preussische Sonata, No. 5 in C Major, Wq. 48/5: III. Allegro assai
16. Preussische Sonata, No. 6 in A Major, Wq. 48/6: I. Allegro
17. Preussische Sonata, No. 6 in A Major, Wq. 48/6: II. Adagio
18. Preussische Sonata, No. 6 in A Major, Wq. 48/6: III. Allegro

CD2
01. Württembergische Sonata, No. 1 in A Minor, Wq. 49/1: I. Moderato
02. Württembergische Sonata, No. 1 in A Minor, Wq. 49/1: II. Andante
03. Württembergische Sonata, No. 1 in A Minor, Wq. 49/1: III. Allegro assai
04. Württembergische Sonata, No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Wq. 49/2: I. Un poco allegro
05. Württembergische Sonata, No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Wq. 49/2: II. Adagio
06. Württembergische Sonata, No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Wq. 49/2: III. Allegro
07. Württembergische Sonata, No. 3 in E Minor, Wq. 49/3: I. Allegro
08. Württembergische Sonata, No. 3 in E Minor, Wq. 49/3: II. Adagio
09. Württembergische Sonata, No. 3 in E Minor, Wq. 49/3: III. Vivace

CD3
01. Württembergische Sonata, No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Wq. 49/4: I. Un poco allegro
02. Württembergische Sonata, No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Wq. 49/4: II. Andante
03. Württembergische Sonata, No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Wq. 49/4: III. Allegro
04. Württembergische Sonata, No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Wq. 49/5: I. Allegro
05. Württembergische Sonata, No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Wq. 49/5: II. Adagio
06. Württembergische Sonata, No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Wq. 49/5: III. Allegro assai
07. Württembergische Sonata, No. 6 in B Minor, Wq. 49/6: I. Moderato
08. Württembergische Sonata, No. 6 in B Minor, Wq. 49/6: II. Adagio non molto
09. Württembergische Sonata, No. 6 in B Minor, Wq. 49/6: III. Allegro



The keyboard sonatas of C.P.E. Bach (1714–1788) bear the hallmarks of a composer who lived through a significant moment in musical history; the fifth child of J.S. Bach, not only was Carl Philipp Emanuel employed at the court of Frederick the Great – whose patronage and amateur music making remain legendary to this day – he composed his works during the transition from the Baroque to the Classical period. His keyboard sonatas, in particular, are musical landmarks that epitomise the style and values of an era.

The Preussische and Württembergische Sonatas, collected together on this splendid new 3-disc set, exemplify C.P.E. Bach’s celebrated style of composition, while revealing the impact of the period’s stylistic influences. The Empfindsamkeit and Sturm und Drang movements, in particular, can be heard in the music’s thrilling and unexpected changes of mood, emphasis on expression, daring approach to harmony and diminishing reliance on traditional counterpoint. Although there are traces of the earlier style, brought to its perfection by Carl Philipp Emanuel’s father, the Preussische and Württembergische sonatas demonstrate a determined shift towards a new style, prefiguring the Classical era.

Given an expert performance by the award-winning harpsichordist and clavichord player Pieter-Jan Belder, whose interpretations highlight the expressive qualities and shifting moods of the music, these sonatas give a compelling insight into the transition from the Baroque era to the Classical period, and into a composer who was at the forefront of the stylistic movements of his day.

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