C.P.E. Bach’s Symphony in D Major, H. 663
Notes by TŌN violist Carla Mendoza Trejo
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was the second son of the renowned Johann Sebastian Bach. Through his musical work he established himself as a leading composer of the 18th Century by creating innovative musical ideas. The Empfindsamer Stil (sentimental style), of which C.P.E. Bach was a pioneer, presented music which emphasizes both delicate and detailed musical expressions. The portrayal of sensitive emotions is done using sighing motifs and sudden musical changes.
The Empfindsamer Stil as well as the literary movement of Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) that also influenced music, belonged to the pre-Romantic German period, which prioritizes emotional expression above rational thinking—yet they differ in their level of intensity. C.P.E. Bach considered Empfindsamer Stil to be reserved “for connoisseurs and amateurs” of the art. In his treatise An Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments he urged his readers to “Play from the soul, not like a trained bird!” and argued that “Since a musician cannot move others unless he himself is moved, he must of necessity feel all of the effects that he hopes to arouse in his listeners. He communicates his own feelings to them and thus most effectively moves them to sympathy.” Sturm und Drang influence presented itself through intense dramatic elements which included powerful rhythms, extreme musical contrasts, and wide-ranging melodic jumps.
The Symphony in D Major, H. 663, which Bach wrote between 1775 and 1776, contains three movements with the titles Allegro di molto, Largo, and Presto. The first movement presents strong musical contrasts between the strings and woodwinds. Bach achieves emotional depth through his employment of unexpected harmonic shifts and the use of unanticipated musical pauses. The second movement presents a more introspective mood through its melancholic melody. The musical dissonances in this section produce a strong feeling of longing. The third movement brings the symphony to its final energetic conclusion. The inclusion of syncopated rhythms creates a joyful atmosphere.