David Murray - C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonatas Nos.4-6; W.F. Bach: Keyboard Sonata (2021)

At some point in the late 1990s I had a life-changing musical experience: I came across Glenn Gould’s recording of Carl Philip Emanuel Bach’s A minor Württemberg Sonata and decided to listen to it. I must admit that my expectations were not high (after all, just how good could it be if I had never heard it?). To my surprise, for the next 15 minutes I stood rooted to the spot. By the time Gould played the opening bars of the third movement I had been converted.
This came as a great surprise to me. At the time, my only exposure to the music of C.P.E. Bach was the often-taught Solfeggietto (surely part of the reason for my youthful disdain), and my perception to this day is that his sonatas and other pieces are heard only infrequently. This is a great departure from his lifetime, when the name Bach typically referred to Emanuel rather than Sebastian and C.P.E. was admired by all the great composers of his day, including Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. At some point during the 19th century his name undeservedly fell into disrepute, with no less a personage than Schumann stating, “As a creative musician, [C.P.E.] remained very far behind his father.”

Track List:
1. Württemberg Sonata No. 4 in B:Flat Major, WQ. 49:4, H. 32: I. Un poco allegro
2. Württemberg Sonata No. 4 in B:Flat Major, WQ. 49:4, H. 32: II. Andante
3. Württemberg Sonata No. 4 in B:Flat Major, WQ. 49:4, H. 32: III. Allegro
4. Württemberg Sonata No. 5 in E:Flat Major, WQ. 49:5, H. 34: I. Allegro
5. Württemberg Sonata No. 5 in E:Flat Major, WQ. 49:5, H. 34: II. Adagio
6. Württemberg Sonata No. 5 in E:Flat Major, WQ. 49:5, H. 34: III. Allegro assai
7. Württemberg Sonata No. 6 in B minor, WQ. 49:6, H. 36: I. Moderato
8. Württemberg Sonata No. 6 in B minor, WQ. 49:6, H. 36: II. Adagio non molto
9. Württemberg Sonata No. 6 in B minor, WQ. 49:6, H. 36: III. Allegro
10. Keyboard Sonata in A Minor, FK NV8: I. Poco allegro
11. Keyboard Sonata in A Minor, FK NV8: II. Largo
12. Keyboard Sonata in A Minor, FK NV8: III. Presto