ClassicalCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel was one of the sons of the great Johann Sebastian Bach.
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1714👶 Birth
Born in Weimar on 8 March; Telemann is his godfather
- 1719🌍 Meanwhile
Defoe publishes Robinson Crusoe
- 1731📚 Trainingage 17
Studies law in Leipzig, then Frankfurt an der Oder
- 1738🎩 Careerage 24
Enters the service of Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia
- 1740🎩 Careerage 26
Harpsichordist to Frederick the Great in Berlin and Potsdam
- 1742🎼 Workage 28
Prussian Sonatas
- 1749🎼 Workage 35
Magnificat
- 1752🌍 Meanwhile
Franklin studies lightning with a kite
- 1753🎼 Workage 39
Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments
- 1776🌍 Meanwhile
United States Declaration of Independence
- 1783🌍 Meanwhile
First manned flight in a hot-air balloon
- 1788🕯️ Deathage 74
Dies in Hamburg on 14 December
- 1789🏛️ Landmark1 year after death
French Revolution
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Excerpts of up to 90 seconds, freely licensed recordings from Wikimedia Commons.
Once upon a time…
Carl Philipp Emanuel was one of the sons of the great Johann Sebastian Bach. His dad taught him everything! He was left-handed and couldn’t play the violin well, so he chose the keyboard.
He worked for the King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, who played the flute. Almost every evening Carl Philipp Emanuel accompanied him on the harpsichord.
He wrote a famous book on how to play the keyboard with feeling. His pieces are full of surprises: silences and sudden changes, like someone hesitating or changing mood.
In his lifetime he was even better known than his dad! His Solfeggietto is still played by young pianists.
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