C.P.E. Bach: Chamber Music with Transverse Flute

Helianthus Ensemble

94884

During the last years of his life, CPE, not unlike his father, was not interested in following fashions or the market, his main aim being to leave posterity a meaningful musical heritage. In a letter written in 1787 he declared that he had concluded his ‘work for the public and now wished to abandon the pen’ not least because the desire to see certain works published that would ‘bring him honour after his death’ had been fulfilled by the publication in 1786 of the Zwey Litaneien Wq204 and in 1787 of the cantata Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu Wq240. The three quartets on this disc, written in 1788, the last year of his life and apparently without commission, can thus be considered the pearls of the composer’s chamber output, and one of the finest fruits of a period of creativity in which he was able to express precisely what he wanted without constraints. The choice of instruments is particularly interesting – indeed, practically unique as a genre and highly original in terms of timbre.

Works:
• Bach, C P E: Duetto for flute and violin, Wq. 140 (H598)
• Bach, C P E: Quartet (Trio) for Flute, Viola, Cello and Keyboard in A minor, Wq. 93 (H537)
• Bach, C P E: Quartet (Trio) for Flute, Viola, Cello and Keyboard in D major, Wq. 94 (H538)
• Bach, C P E: Quartet (Trio) for Flute, Viola, Cello and Keyboard in G major, Wq. 95 (H539)
• Bach, C P E: Quartet in D Major, Wq. 94
• Bach, C P E: Trio in A major for flute, violin and basso continuo, Wq 146 (H570)

CD x 1

Brilliant Classics

2019-11-13

5028421948843