Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (March 8, 1714 – December 14, 1788) was a German musician and composer, the second surviving son of five sons from Johann Sebastian Bach and his first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. His early works were the epitome of the grand Baroque style, while his later works were the foundation of the classical style, composing in the Rococo and Classical periods. Standing in the shadow of his famous father J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach is often overlooked as a composer, yet he created imaginative sonatas for keyboard, and made significant contributions to Protestant Church music in the second half of the eighteenth century. During this time, he was known as the "Great Bach," the most distinguished son of J.S. Bach. His compositions were the advocate of transition from J.S. Bach, Telemann, and Handel to Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.