Sonata in E Minor

The second son and fifth child born to Johann Sebastian and Maria Barbara Bach, Carl Philipp Emmanuel (C.P.E.) Bach is perhaps the best known of Bach’s sons who followed in their father’s footsteps. He composed numerous symphonies, concertos, chamber and keyboard works that bridged the Baroque and Classical styles and influenced several generations of composers, including Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Written in 1785 toward the end of his life, the Sonata in E minor was published in a collection of solo keyboard sonatas written for “connoisseurs and amateurs.” With its dramatic contrasts, fantastic outbursts, and quick humor, the work represents the essence of C.P.E.’s individual identity as a composer.