Nine Sonatas: Piano Book

Name: Nine Sonatas: Piano Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-K02004
Price: 10.99 USD
Availability: InStock

By Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Item: 00-K02004

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Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710--1784) was the eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and was a composer and performing musician. He was acknowledged in his day as an excellent organist, improviser and composer. Includes Sonatas: No. 1 in G Major * No. 2 in A Major * No. 3 in B-flat Major * No. 4 in D Major * No. 5 in D Major * No. 6 in E-flat Major * No. 7 in C Major * No. 8 in C Major * No. 9 in F Major.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Nine Sonatas: Piano Book comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Kalmus Edition

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 76

ISBN10: 0-7692-6138-8

ISBN13: 978-0-7692-6138-6

UPC: 029156919202

SKU: 00-K02004

More about this title

About the Composer: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach occupied a pivotal position in music history as both the eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and a major composer in his own right. Active across the mid-18th century, he earned widespread respect as a virtuoso organist and improviser, composing prolifically across keyboard, chamber, and vocal genres even as his father's reputation eventually overshadowed his own legacy.

His nine sonatas represent the bridge between Baroque structural language and the emerging Classical style. Writing during a period of rapid stylistic change, W.F. Bach synthesized his father's contrapuntal rigor with the galant sensibility of his contemporaries, producing works that demand both technical fluency and interpretive maturity from performers.

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Why we love this

These nine sonatas offer a compelling alternative to the standard Bach chorale and Invention diet. W.F. Bach's writing is surprisingly direct and expressive, with clear harmonic architecture that students can actually hear and trace, making these works particularly rewarding for pianists developing their interpretive voice beyond note-reading.

What to expect

Elegant and purposeful. W.F. Bach's language feels more conversational than his father's intricate fugal architecture; there is warmth and forward motion even when the harmonic language grows complex. The writing sits comfortably under the hands while never sacrificing musical substance.

Who it's for

Advanced intermediate to early advanced pianists seeking substantial repertoire beyond the standard pedagogical canon. These sonatas work well for students preparing for college auditions or for adult amateurs who want to explore the Bach family beyond J.S. Bach's keyboard works.

How to get the most out of it

Approach the Baroque ornamentation with period awareness. Notes inégales and careful articulation will clarify the counterpoint without requiring modern rubato.
Pay attention to the key relationships across the nine sonatas. Programming them in order reveals W.F. Bach's harmonic thinking and creates natural variety of character.
Allow space for the inner voices. These are not showpieces; they repay the listener for attending to the dialogue among all voices rather than foregrounding the melody.

How to use it

Situate these works in a recital exploring the Bach family legacy, pairing them with keyboard music from C.P.E. Bach or J.C. Bach to contextualize the stylistic transition. A single sonata makes an excellent bridge piece between Baroque and Classical era programming.