Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) was a composer of extraordinary technical and musical ambition who bridged the Baroque and Classical eras. The son of J.S. Bach, he established himself as a keyboard virtuoso and prolific composer in his own right, serving at the court of Frederick the Great in Berlin before moving to Hamburg. His keyboard works are marked by dramatic harmonic shifts, unexpected modulations, and a conversational style that influenced Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Bach's approach to keyboard writing was revolutionary for its time. He championed the fortepiano over the harpsichord and demanded expressive depth from performers, publishing influential treatises on performance practice. His Solfeggietto exemplifies this ideal: a piece that is both a technical study and a genuine musical statement.
