CPE Bach: Hamburg Sinfonias

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (Composer), Christian Benda (Conductor), Capella Istropolitana (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Capella Istropolitana
• Conductor: Christian Benda
• Composer: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
• Audio CD (June 10, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000014D9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,367 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising Music, Well Played, May 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: CPE Bach: Hamburg Sinfonias (Audio CD)

Even though C. P. E. Bach was highly influential and counted among his admirers Haydn and Beethoven (not too slouchy!), his symphonies represent a kind of musical dead end. No composer after him followed his lead in producing what he thought of as music of "affect," but which I would rather think of as music of wit. But Bach's wit is not the genial, tongue-in-cheek wit of a Haydn; it's more the wit of the Metaphysical poets. Bach's language is one of strange and unexpected harmonies and melodic turns. In fact, as music critics have pointed out, he is the most adventurous composer harmonically before Schubert.

And Bach's strangest, most striking music comes in these Hamburg Symphonies and the four so-called Orchestral Symphonies Wq 183. Unlike the later symphonies, however, the Wq 182 symphonies are scored not for winds and strings but for strings alone. In a way, this seems to enhance the lightening-quick play of wit, and I admire both sets almost equally.

In this Naxos recording, everything seems to go right. The orchestra is highly responsive, zipping along with glee or exploring the melancholy music of Bach's slow movements with equal success. Christian Benda, a descendant of the 18th-century Czech composer Jiri Benda, is a fine conductor who understands the music of this period well. Add to the package a clear, resonant recording, and this is a find for lovers of the pre-Classical era.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unknown Gems!, April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: CPE Bach: Hamburg Sinfonias (Audio CD)

These symphonies are virtually unknown to most concert-goers. They are wonderfully fresh, charming works. One wonders why they are not more often performed!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to C.P.E Bach music., April 16, 2010

By 

Carlos Quintero "quinmal" (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CPE Bach: Hamburg Sinfonias (Audio CD)

I think on Carl Philip Emanuel as the most brilliant music from the
great Johann Sebastian's sons. He composed really great music and his
catalogue of works is really wide. However, his works are still unfairly
unknown, and perhaps excepting the great cello concerti, the rest of his
works are novelties for most of ears. This CD shows great performances
os late-baroque symphonies by this composer and i can recommend this as
an excellent introduction to C.P.E Bach music legacy. A safe recommendation.