C. P. E. Bach tricentennial tribute

In the month of March 2014 we celebrate the 300th anniversary of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (born March 8, 1714) with a recital of his music along with works by three of his close contacts: his famous father, Johann Sebastian Bach (also with a birthday this month); his godfather, Georg Philipp Telemann; and one of his colleagues, Johann Gottlieb Graun.

C. P. E. Bach himself will be represented by two “trios” for violin and obbligato keyboard: in D minor, Wq 72, and in C minor, Wq 78. This instrumentation is clearly modeled on his father’s “trios for two,” in which the harpsichordist’s right hand takes the second solo line. The audience will have the opportunity also to hear J. S. Bach’s trio (sonata) in C minor, BWV 1017—a sharp contrast with his son’s music in the same key. We will also perform one of Telemann’s “Methodical Sonatas” (no. 12, in C major) and Graun’s rarely heard trio for viola and obbligato keyboard.

We will present the program twice in Madison: on Saturday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Chocolaterian Cafe (2004 Atwood Avenue); and on Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 p.m. at the Madison Public Library (Central Library, Room 301, 201 W. Mifflin Street). Both performances are free, although donations will be gratefully accepted at the Chocolaterian. Not to mention, of course, that the Chocolaterian would appreciate your patronage—and we can affirm that when you look at the menu or in the bakery case, you may find it difficult not to oblige!

We will also be guests on radio station WORT’s Musica Antiqua, with host Alan Muirhead, on Sunday, March 9. The program runs from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., and our interview and in-studio performance will be 10:00–10:30. Tune in at 89.9 FM in Madison, or listen online.