IYO, which of Bach's son's was the most talented? W, CPE or JC ?

[Scion7]

__ Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

_x_ Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

__ Johann Christian Bach

[Ken B]

This will be a slaughter.

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, Sebastian thought it was William Friedemann, but I think history will agree it was Carl Phillipp Emmanuel...

[Scion7]

If he had not been so restless and been able to sit and compose more works, things might have turned out different.  I like what he put down, but Philipp achieved more because he worked at developing his craft much longer.

[Daverz]

Wait, there aren't more sons? I thought for sure there was another obscure one.

Got him:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johann_Christoph_Friedrich_Bach

Any more?

This CD is pretty good:

[asin]B003U6714O[/asin]

[Gurn Blanston]

If he had not been so restless and been able to sit and compose more works, things might have turned out different.  I like what he put down, but Philipp achieved more because he worked at developing his craft much longer.

I agree. I have a disk or two of his, some pretty nice stuff.

[Scion7]

Wait, there aren't more sons? ....

Yeah, but that one is hardly ever mentioned in relation to the "big 3."  Not to make light of him - so much of his only-in-original-manuscripts were tragically destroyed in WW2 due to Nazi incompetence in not securing them during the war.  Like Brahms' piano, gone forever.  If the proper care had been taken to have them published, we'd have copies out there.  Apparently, almost all of his most greatest (late) music is nothing but ashes.

[jochanaan]

It's a close call between J.C. and C.P.E. Bach, but I feel that Philipp was the most forward-looking of Bach's sons.  On the other hand, Mozart (and probably Haydn) had a high opinion of J.C. Bach, who became known as "John Bach" after he settled in England.

[André]

Carl Philipp Emanuel is by far the most forward looking and sheerly talented composer between JS and Haydn-Mozart (roughly 1740-1775). I can't wait for BIS to reissue their mammoth solo keyboard and concertante works in a Big Box.  The curious can delve in individual issues of that series.

[SonicMan46]

Carl Philipp Emanuel is by far the most forward looking and sheerly talented composer between JS and Haydn-Mozart (roughly 1740-1775). I can't wait for BIS to reissue their mammoth solo keyboard and concertante works in a Big Box.  The curious can delve in individual issues of that series.

Hi André - I'd have to agree that CPE Bach would be my choice; now I own a LOT of JC Bach and enjoy his music but he was not as profound nor as forward-looking as his older half brother; however, WF Bach, the eldest son, seemed to have great potential which seem to not have been fulfilled - Dave

[Que]

Well, Sebastian thought it was William Friedemann, but I think history will agree it was Carl Phillipp Emmanuel...

The Old Bach was probably taken by the fact that WF tried to sound like his father.....bad idea.....so far WF comes across as a uninspired and not so overly talented struggler.

CPE's star, on the other hand, is ever still rising. Not just with me, but it seems in general too.  He might end up as one of the top composers in the Classical era.

JC is an unknown quantity to me! Must do something about that - I'm sure you guys will provide some pointers.

Q

[Jo498]

I have heard some harpsichord concerti as well as "symphonies" (more orchestral movements) by Wilhelm Friedemann and they are very good. May slightly more baroque/conservative than his brothers, but not like JS either. But he was mostly famous as an organ/keyboard virtuoso and improviser (and it may be that this was also a reason for the high opinion of his father), so the written down music may not reflect his strongest points. And I agree that it seems he did nor really fulfil his potential.

[kishnevi]

CPE was "the" Bach to most of his contemporaries, not merely an epigone of his father.  Perhaps that view unfairly threw his brothers into obscurity. Or perhaps they judged correctly.

[Jo498]

True, CPE was the most famous.
But neither WF nor JC were "obscure" at the time of their deaths. Mozart arranged one of WFs fugues (if those are really WAMs arrangements), some of his keyboard music was apparently collected/transmitted together with his fathers. And JC was of course a friend and major influence of the young Mozart and one of the most important musicians in London between Handel's and time and Haydn/Clementi/Pleyel.

[Mandryka]

The Old Bach was probably taken by the fact that WF tried to sound like his father.....bad idea.....so far WF comes across as a uninspired and not so overly talented struggler.

Have you heard the recording Robert Hill made of the Polonaises?

[Que]

Have you heard the recording Robert Hill made of the Polonaises?

No I haven't - some cantatas and keyboard concertos.  After that I gave up on WF...

If you could show or link the Robert Hill recording,  please!

Q

[Mandryka]

No I haven't - some cantatas and keyboard concertos.  After that I gave up on WF...

If you could show or link the Robert Hill recording,  please!

Q

[asin]B000WPJ6GW[/asin]

The instrument, the piano, is very interesting

[Wakefield]

[asin]B000WPJ6GW[/asin]

The instrument, the piano, is very interesting

I agree.

I also enjoyed a lot the harpsichord concertos released on Brilliant Classics, with Claudio Astronio (superb playing!) and his ensemble.

Here a nice sample of Astronio's skills, uploaded by himself on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/v/uBN85eAezFA

[The Six]

All these posts and no PDQ mention?

[jochanaan]

All these posts and no PDQ mention?