Here's a rare opportunity for listeners to explore the extremely rich and varied oeuvre of a composer who achieved considerable renown in his own lifetime and was in fact much more highly regarded than his father - contemporaneous references always referred to him, rather than Johann Sebastian, as the �'great Bach'.

The second eldest of four sons, Carl Philipp Emanuel�'s reputation declined somewhat during the course of the 19th century, when Mendelssohn�'s revival of his father�'s Matthew Passion fuelled a surge in appreciation for the mastery of this genius�'s music.

Today, however, with renewed interest in neglected 18th� century music, CPE Bach�'s status has been revised, and he is now recognised as a significant composer in his own right, the author of a boldly original and innovative style.

As the set reveals, Emanuel composed in practically every genre except opera. A substantial part of his career was spent working for the flute-playing Frederick the Great, and his chamber works reflect the conservative tastes of his patron who was effectively a restraint on the composer�'s experimental spirit.

With such works as the Hamburg Symphonies and keyboard sonatas, however, CPE Bach was able to unleash all facets of his musical talent. The empfindsamer Stil, of which he was an important pioneer, is particularly evident in the latter works which number over 300 in total.

Also included on the compilation is an assortment of concertos (most of which were written for the keyboard), sacred songs - the composer exercised an important role in the early beginnings of the German lied, and vocal works such as cantatas and oratorios. Landmarks regarding the latter genre include the Magnificat and The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.

A wonderful array of talent is assembled for this compilation, which features many period performance ensembles and artists, the Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum and Bart van Oort included, who have made the music of Bach their primary study.

As one of the few sets on the market that explores CPE Bach�'s music in such depth, this bargain priced compendium is a worthy addition to the Baroque enthusiast�'s library, affording hours of pleasurable listening experience.

Contents:
CD 1 Hamburg Symphonies Wq183 (H663-666) with 12 obligato parts
- Symphony in D Wq183 No.1 (H663)
- Symphony in E flat Wq183 No.2 (H664)
- Harpsichord Concerto in C minor Wq43 No.4 (H474)
- Symphony in F Wq183 No.3 (H665)
- Symphony in G Wq183 No.4 (H666)

Total time 55'22
Marek Toporowski (harpsichord)
Solamente Naturali on period instruments / Didier Talpain

CD 2 Berlin Symphonies
- Symphony in E flat Wq179 (H654) for 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings & b.c.
- Symphony in F Wq181 (H656) for 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings & b.c.
- Symphony in C Wq174 (H649) for 2 flutes, 2 horns, strings & b.c.
- Symphony in F Wq175 (H650) for 2 flutes, 2 horns, strings & b.c.
- Symphony in E minor Wq178 (H653) for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings & b.c.

Total time 53'03
Klaus Kirbach (harpsichord)
Kammerorchester 'Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach' / Hartmut Haenchen

CD 3 Six Symphonies Wq182 for strings and continuo
- Symphony No.1 in G (H657)
- Symphony No.2 in B flat (H658)
- Symphony No.3 in C (H659)
- Symphony No.4 in A (H660)
- Symphony No.5 in B minor (H661)
- Symphony No.6 in E (H662)

Total time 63'47
Michael-Christfried Winkler (harpsichord)
Kammerorchester 'Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach' / Hartmut Haenchen

CD 4
- Oboe Concerto in B flat Wq164 (H466)
- Pastorale in A minor Wq.deest
Joaquim Guerra Codina (bassoon)

- Oboe Sonata in G minor Wq135 (H549)
- Oboe Concerto in E flat WQ165 (H468)
Anna Starr (oboe)
Musica Poetica / Jörn Boysen (harpsichord & direction)

Total time 53'28

CD 5
- Flute Concerto in B flat Wq164 (H466) (orig. Oboe Concerto)
- Flute Concerto in D minor Wq22 (H425)
- Flute Concerto in E flat Wq165 (H468) (orig. Oboe Concerto)
Machiko Takahashi (flute)
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra / Roland Kieft

Total time 64'29

CD 6
- Flute Concerto in B flat Wq167 (H435)
- Flute Concerto in A Wq168 (H438)
- Flute Concerto in G Wq169 (H445)
Eckart Haupt (flute)
Kammerorchester 'Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach' / Hartmut Haenchen

Total time 66'35

CD 7
- Concerto for organ, strings and continuo in G Wq34 (H444)
- Prelude in D Wq70 No.7 (H107)
- Concerto for organ, strings and continuo in B flat Wq35 (H446)
- Fantasia and fugue in C minor Wq119 No.7 (H103)

Roland Münch (organ), Klaus Kirbach (harpsichord)
Kammerorchester 'Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach'/ Hartmut Haenchen

Total time 52'33

CD 8
- Cello Concerto in A minor Wq170 (H432)
- Cello Concerto in B flat Wq171 (H436)
- Cello Concerto in A Wq172 (H439)

Raphael Wallfisch (cello)
Scottish Ensemble / Jonathan Morton

Total time 67'45

CD 9
- Harpsichord Concerto in G Wq3 (H405)
- Harpsichord Concerto in G minor Wq6 (H409)
- Harpsichord Concerto in E Wq14 (H417)
Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord)
Musica Amphion / Pieter-Jan Belder

Total time 64'30

CD 10
- Concerto in D minor Wq22 (H425) for recorder (flute) & strings
- Concerto (Sonatina) in E flat Wq108 (H462) for harpsicord, two recorders & strings
- Quartet in A minor Wq93 (H537) for harpsichord, recorder (flute), violin & cello
- Trio in F Wq163 (H588) for bass recorder, viola & b.c.
Collegium Pro Musica / Stefano Bagliano

Total time 64'11

CD 11
- Trio in A minor Wq93 (H537) for obbligato harpsichord, traverso & viola
- Trio in D Wq94 (H538)  for obbligato harpsichord, traverso & viola
- Duet in E minor Wq140 (H598) for traverso and violin (edited by the author in Musikalisches Vielerley, Hamburg 1770)
- Trio in G Wq95 (H539) for obbligato harpsichord, traverso & viola
- Sonata in A Wq146 (H570/H542) (1731--47) for traverso, violin, cello & harpsichord
Helianthus Ensemble

Total time 63'13

CD 12
- Flute Sonata in G Wq127 (H554)
- Flute Sonata in E minor Wq124 (H551)
- Flute Sonata in G Wq123 (H550)
- Flute Sonata in B flat Wq125 (H552)
- Flute Sonata in D Wq126 (H553)
- Flute Sonata in B flat Wq130 (H560)
Musica ad Rhenum

Total time 55'33

CD 13
- Flute Sonata in D Wq129 (H556)
- Flute Sonata in A minor Wq128 (H555)
- Flute Sonata in G Wq134 (H548)
- Flute Sonata in D Wq131 (H561)
- Flute Sonata in G Wq133 (H564)
Total time 51'33

Musica ad Rhenum

CD 14
- Sonata in D for viola da gamba and basso continuo Wq137 (H559)
- Sonata in C for viola da gamba and basso continuo Wq136 (H558)
- Trio in G minor for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord Wq88 (H510)
Paolo Pandolfo (viola da gamba), Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord)

Total time 67'25

CD 15
- Sonata in D for keyboard (harpsichord) and violin Wq71 (H502)
- Sonata in D for keyboard (harpsichord) and violin Wq72 (H503)
- Sonata in C for keyboard (harpsichord) and violin Wq73 (H504)
- Sinfonia in D for keyboard (harpsichord) and violin Wq74 (H507)
- Sonata in B minor for keyboard (harpsichord and violin Wq76 (H512)
- Sonata in G minor for keyboard (harpsichord) and violin H524.5 - Previously attributed to J.S. Bach, BWV1020
Roberto Loreggian (harpsichord), Federico Guglielmo (violin)

Total time 74'30

CD 16 Prussian Sonatas Wq48 (1740)
- Sonata No.1 in F (H24)
- Sonata No.2 in B flat (H25)
- Sonata No.3 in E (H26)
- Sonata No.4 in C minor (H27)
- Sonata No.5 in C (H28)
- Sonata No.6 in A (H29)
Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord, clavichord)

Total time 78'55

CD 17 Württemberg Sonatas Wq49
- Sonata No.1 in A minor (H30)
- Sonata No.2 in A flat (H31)
- Sonata No.3 in E minor (H33)
Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord, clavichord)

Total time 49'26

CD 18 Württemberg Sonatas Wq49
- Sonata No.4 in B flat (H32)
- Sonata No.5 in E flat (H34)
- Sonata No.6 in B minor (H36)
Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord, clavichord)

Total time 49'22

CD 19 Sechs Clavier-Sonaten für Kenner und Liebhaber, Erste Sammlung Wq55 (1779)
- Sonata No.1 in C (H244)
- Sonata No.2 in F (H130)
- Sonata No.3 in B minor (H245)
- Sonata No.4 in A (H186)
- Sonata No.5 in F (H243)
Pieter-Jan Belder (fortepiano, clavichord)

Total time 52'43

CD 20
- Sonata in G Wq55 No.6 (H187) from Sechs Clavier-Sonaten für Kenner und Liebhaber, Erste Sammlung Wq55

Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Zweite Sammlung Wq56 (1780)
- Rondo No.1 in C (H260)
- Sonata No.1 in G (H246)
- Rondo No.2 in D (H261)
- Sonata No.2 in F (H269)
- Rondo No.3 in A (H262)
- Sonata No.3 in A (H270)

Pieter-Jan Belder (fortepiano, clavichord)
Total time 60'03

CD 21
Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Dritte Sammlung Wq57 (1781)
- Rondo No.1 in E (H265)
- Sonata in A minor (H247)
- Rondo No.2 in G (H271)
- Sonata No.2 in D minor (H268)
- Rondo No.3 in F (H266)
- Sonata No.3 in F minor (H173)

Clavier-Sonaten und freie Fantasien nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Vierte Sammlung Wq58 (1783)
- Rondo No.1 in A (H276) 5'02
- Sonata No.1 in G (H273)

Pieter-Jan Belder (fortepiano, clavichord)
Total time 62'46

CD 22
Clavier-Sonaten und freie Fantasien nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Vierte Sammlung Wq58 (1783)
- Rondo No.2 in E (H274) 4'16
- Sonata No.2 in E minor (H288)
- Rondo No.3 in B flat (H267) 5'15
- Fantasia No.1 in E Flat (H277) 6'33
- Fantasia No.2 in A (H278) 5'55

Clavier-Sonaten und freie Fantasien nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Fünfte Sammlung Wq59 (1785)
- Sonata No.1 in E minor (H281)
- Rondo No.1 in G (H268) 7'52

Pieter-Jan Belder (fortepiano, clavichord)
Total time 47'50

CD 23
Clavier-Sonaten und freie Fantasien nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Fünfte Sammlung Wq59 (1785)
- Sonata No.2 in B flat (H282)
- Rondo No.2 in C minor (H283)
- Fantasia No.1 in F (H279)
- Fantasia No.2 in C (H284)

Clavier-Sonaten und freie Fantasien nebst einigen Rondos fürs Forte-Piano für Kenner und Liebhaber, Sechste Sammlung Wq61 (1787)
- Rondo No.1 in E flat (H288) 5'17
- Sonata No.1 in D (H286)
- Fantasia No.1 in B flat (H289)
- Rondo No.2 in D minor (H290)
- Sonata No.2 in E minor (H287)
- Fantasia No.2 in C (H291)

Pieter-Jan Belder (fortepiano, clavichord)
Total time 66'00

CD 24
Keyboard Symphony in G Wq122 No.1 (H45) (arr. Wq173)
- Keyboard Symphony in F Wq122 No.2 (H104) (arr. Wq175)
- Keyboard Symphony in D (arr. Wq176)
- Keyboard Symphony in E Minor Wq122 No.3 (H653) (arr. Wq178)
Andrea Chezzi (harpsichord)

Total time 47'43

CD 25
Sacred songs
- Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur Wq194 No.18
- Betrachtung des Todes Wq194 No.26
- Die Zufriedenheit in Gott Wq195 No.6
- Prüfung am Abend Wq194 No.7
- Osterlied Wq194 No.10
- Der Unbeständige H709
- Der 8. Psalm Wq196 No.4
- Der 23. Psalm Wq196 No.8
- Der 86. Psalm Wq196 No.19
- Der 67. Psalm Wq196 No.18
- Das Privilegium H693
- Der Tag des Weltgerichts Wq197 No.13
- Der Frühling Wq197 No.14
- Die Fortdauer der Lehre Jesu Wq197 No.21
- Andenken an den Tod Wq198 No.12

Secular songs
- Die Küsse H673
- Belinde H695

Julian Redlin (bass), Jörn Boysen (harpsichord)
Total time 55'59

CD 26
- Symphony in G Wq173 (H648)
- Symphony in G Wq180 (H655)
- Magnificat in D Wq215 (H772) for soloists, chorus and orchestra
Venceslava Hruba-Freiberger (soprano), Barbara Bornemann (contralto), Peter Schreier (tenor), Olaf Bär (baritone)
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Kammerorchester 'Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach' / Hartmut Haenchen

Total time 63'44

CD 27
- Morgengesang am Schöpfungsfeste Wq239 (H779)
Barbara Schlick (soprano I), Johanna Koslowsky (soprano II)

- Auf, schicke dich recht feierlich Wq249 (H815)
- Anbetung dem Erbarmer Wq243 (H807)
Barbara Schlick (soprano), Hilke Helling (contralto), Wilfried Jochens (tenor), Gotthold Schwarz (bass)

- Heilig Wq217 (H778)
Hilke Helling (contralto)

Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

Total time 58'27

CD 28
- Gnädig und barmherzig ist der Herr Wq250 (H281)
- Wer ist so würdig als du Wq222 (H831)
- Der Herr lebet Wq251 (H821g)
Barbara Schlick (soprano), Hilke Helling (contralto), Wilfried Jochens (tenor), Gotthold Schwarz (bass)
Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

Total time 67'11

CD 29
- Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu Wq240 (H777)
Barbara Schlick (soprano), Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Stephen Varcoe (bass)
Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

Total time 48'03

CD 30
- Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu Wq240 (H777) (conclusion)
Barbara Schlick (soprano), Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Stephen Varcoe (bass)

- Gott hat den Herrn auferweckt Wq244 (H803)
Martina Lins (soprano), Paul Elliott (tenor), Gotthold Schwarz (bass)

Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max
Total time 51'07