Ana-Marija Markovina: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – The Complete Works for Piano Solo (FLAC)

Composer: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Performer: Ana-Marija Markovina
Number of Discs: 26
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Hänssler
Catalogue: 98003
Release: 2014
Size: 6.8 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Sechs Sonaten (Preussischen Sonaten), Wq 48
01-03. Sonata in F major, Wq 48/1
04-06. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 48/2
07-09. Sonata in E major, Wq 48/3
10-12. Sonata in C minor, Wq 48/4
13-15. Sonata in C major, Wq 48/5
16-18. Sonata in A major, Wq 48/6

19. Menuet pour le Clavessin par C.P.E.B., Wq 111
20-22. Concerto in C major, Wq 112/1
23 Fantasia in D major, Wq 112/2
24 Minuetto I + II, Wq 112/3

CD 02
Sechs Sonaten (Württembergischen Sonaten), Wq 49
01-03. Sonata in A minor, Wq 49/1
04-06. Sonata in A flat major, Wq 49/2
07-09. Sonata in E minor, Wq 49/3
10-12. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 49/4
13-15. Sonata in E flat major, Wq 49/5
16-18. Sonata in B minor, Wq 49/6

19. Solfeggio in G major, Wq 112/4
20 Alla polacca in A minor, Wq 112/5
21-23. Sonata in D minor, Wq 112/7

CD 03
Sechs Sonaten mit veränderten Reprisen, Wq 50
01-03. Sonata in F major, Wq 50/1
04-06. Sonata in G major, Wq 50/2
07-08. Sonata in A minor, Wq 50/3
10-12. Sonata in D minor, Wq 50/4
13-15. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 50/5
16 Sonata in C minor, Wq 50/6

17. Sing-Ode Das Privilegium, Wq 112/6
18. Fantasia in B flat major, Wq 112/8
19. Minuetto I+II, Wq 112/9
20. Solfeggio in C major, Wq 112/10
21. Alla Polacca in G minor, Wq 112/11
22. Sing-Ode Die Landschaft, Wq 112/12
23-25. Sinfonia in G major, Wq 112/13

CD 04
Fortsetzung von Sechs Sonaten mit veränderten Reprisen, Wq 51
01-03. Sonata in C major, Wq 51/1
04-06. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 51/2
07-09. Sonata in C minor, Wq 51/3
10-12. Sonata in D minor, Wq 51/4
13-15. Sonata in F major, Wq 51/5
16-18. Sonata in G minor, Wq 51/6

19. Sing-Ode Belinde, Wq 112/14
20. Fantasia in F major, Wq 112/15
21. Minuetto I + II, Wq 112/16
22. Alla Polacca in D major, Wq 112/17
23. Solfeggio in G major, Wq 112/18
24. Fuge in G minor, Wq 112/19
25. Allegro in G major, Wq 113/1
26. Arioso in C major, Wq 113/2
27. Fantasia in D minor, Wq 113/3
28. Minuetto I + II, Wq 113/4
29. Alla Polacca in A minor, Wq 113/5
30. Allegretto in D major, Wq 113/6
31. Alla Polacca in B minor, Wq 113/7
32. Allegretto in A major, Wq 113/8
33. Andante e sostenuto in G minor, Wq 113/9
34. Presto in B flat major, Wq 113/10
35. Allegro in D minor, Wq 113/11

CD 05
Zweite Fortsetzung von Sechs Sonaten mit veränderten Reprisen, Wq 52
01-03. Sonata in E flat major, Wq 52/1 – I. Poco allegro
04-06. Sonata in D minor, Wq 52/2 – I. Allegretto
07-09. Sonata in G minor, Wq 52/3 – I. Andante ed amoroso
10-12. Sonata in F sharp minor, Wq 52/4 – I. Allegro
13-15. Sonata in E major, Wq 52/5 – I. Allegro
16-18. Sonata in E minor, Wq 52/6 – I. Allegro

19. Allegro di molto in F major, Wq 114/1
20. Andante e grazioso in G minor, Wq 114/2
21. Presto in C minor, Wq 114/3
22. Minuetto I + II, Wq 114/4
23. Alla Polacca in D major, Wq 114/5
24. Alla Polacca in E flat major, Wq 114/6
25. Fantasia in D minor, Wq 114/7
26. Allegro in E major, Wq 114/8
27. Allegretto in A major, Wq 114/9
28. Andante in C major, Wq 114/10
29. Poco allegro in E minor, Wq 114/11

CD 06
Sechs Leichte Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 53
01-03. Sonata in C major, Wq 53/1
04-06. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 53/2
07-09. Sonata in A minor, Wq 53/3
10-12. Sonata in B minor, Wq 53/4
13-15. Sonata in C major, Wq 53/5
16-18. Sonata in F major, Wq 53/6

19. Menuets I + II in E flat major, Wq 116/1
20. Polonaise in E flat major, Wq 116/2
21. Zwo abwechselnde Menuetten, Wq 116/3
22. Alla Polacca in C major, Wq 116/4
23. Zwo abwechselnde Menuetten, Wq 116/5
24. Alla Polacca in D major, Wq 116/6
25. Zwo abwechselnde Menuetten, Wq 116/7
26. Alla Polacca in G major, Wq 116/8
27. Andantino in D minor, Wq 116/18
28. Allegretto in F major, Wq 116/19
29. Allegro in D major, Wq 116/20
30. Allegro in C major, Wq 116/21
31. Polonaise in G minor, Wq 116/22

CD 07
Six Sonates pour le Clavecin à l’usage des Dames, Wq 54
01-02. Sonata in F major, Wq 54/1
03-05. Sonata in C major, Wq 54/2
06-08. Sonata in D minor, Wq 54/3
09-11. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 54/4
12-14. Sonata in D major, Wq 54/5
15-17. Sonata in A major, Wq 54/6

18. Andantino in C major, Wq 116/23
19. Andante in F major, Wq 116/24
20. Allegro in D major, Wq 116/25
21. Allegro in G major, Wq 116/26
22. Andante in G minor, Wq 116/27
23. Allegro in D major, Wq 116/28
24. Clavierstück für die rechte oder linke Hand allein, Wq 117/1
25. Solfeggio in C minor, Wq 117/2
26. Solfeggio in E flat major, Wq 117/3
27. Solfeggio in A major, Wq 117/4
28. Fantasia in G major, Wq 117/11
29. Fantasia in D minor, Wq 117/12
30. Fantasia in G minor, Wq 117/13
31. Fantasia in D major, Wq 117/14
32. La Borchward. Polonaise, Wq 117/17
33. La Pott. Menuett, Wq 117/18
34. La Gleim. Rondeau, Wq 117/19
35. La Bergius, Wq 117/20
36. La Prinzette, Wq 117/21
37. L’Auguste. Polonaise, Wq 117/22
38. L’Hermann, Wq 117/23
39. La Buchholz, Wq 117/24
40. La Stahl, Wq 117/25

CD 08
Sechs Clavier-Sonaten für Kenner und Liebhaber. Erste Sammlung, Wq 55
01-03. Sonata in C major, Wq 55/1
04-06. Sonata in F major, Wq 55/2
07-09. Sonata in B minor, Wq 55/3
10-12. Sonata in A major, Wq 55/4
13-15. Sonata in F major, Wq 55/5
16-18. Sonata in G major, Wq 55/6

19. La Böhmer. Murky, Wq 117/26
20. L’Aly Rupalich, Wq 117/27
21. La complaisante, Wq 117/28

CD 09
Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Fortepiano, für Kenner und Liebhaber. Zweite Sammlung, Wq 56
01. Rondo I in C major, Wq 56/1
02-04. Sonata I in G major, Wq 56/2
05. Rondo II in D major, Wq 56/3
06-07. Sonata II in F major, Wq 56/4
08. Rondo II in A minor, Wq 56/5
09. Sonata III in A major, Wq 56/6

10. La Xenophon / La Sibylle, Wq 117/29
11. Les langueurs tendres, Wq 117/30
12. L’Irrésoluë, Wq 117/31
13. La Journalière, Wq 117/32
14. La Capricieuse, Wq 117/33
15. La Philippine. Arioso, Wq 117/34
16. La Gabriel, Wq 117/35
17. La Louise, Wq 117/36
18. La Gause, Wq 117/37
19. La Frédérique, Wq 117/38
20. La Caroline, Wq 117/39
21. La Sophie. Aria, Wq 117/40
22. 8 Variationen über eine Arietta in A major, H351
23. Canzonetta mit 6 Variationen, Wq 118/8

CD 10
Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Fortepiano, für Kenner und Liebhaber. Dritte Sammlung, Wq 57
01. Rondo I in E major, Wq 57/1
02-04. Sonata I in A minor , Wq 57/2
05. Rondo II in G major, Wq 57/3
06-08. Sonata II in D minor , Wq 57/4
09. Rondo III in F major, Wq 57/5
10-12. Sonata III in F minor , Wq 57/6

13. 24 Variationen über ‘Ich schlief, da träumte mir’, Wq 118/1
14. Ariette mit 22 Variationen, Wq 118/2

CD 11
Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Fortepiano, für Kenner und Liebhaber. Vierte Sammlung, Wq 58
01. Rondo I in A major, Wq 58/1
02-04. Sonata I in G major , Wq 58/2
05. Rondo II in E major, Wq 58/3
06-08. Sonata II in E minor , Wq 58/4
09. Rondo III in B flat major, Wq 58/5
10. Fantasia I in E flat major, Wq 58/6
11. Fantasia II in A major, Wq 58/7

12. Menuett mit 5 Variationen, Wq 118/3
13. Arioso mit 7 Variationen, Wq 118/4
14. Variationen über die Romanze ‘Collin a seiza ans’, Wq 118/6
15. Minuetto (di Locatelli) mit 21 Variationen, Wq 118/7

CD 12
Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Fortepiano, für Kenner und Liebhaber. Fünfte Sammlung, Wq 59
01-03. Sonata I in E minor , Wq 59/1
04. Rondo I in G major, Wq 59/2
05-07. Sonata II in B flat major, Wq 59/3
08. Rondo II in C minor, Wq 59/4
09. Fantasia I in F major, Wq 59/5
10. Fantasia II in C major, Wq 59/6

11. Allegretto mit 6 Variationen, Wq 118/5
12. 12 Variationen über ‘Les Folies d’Espagne’, Wq 118/9
13. Variationen über ein Arioso mit veränderten Reprisen, Wq 118/10

CD 13
Clavier-Sonaten nebst einigen Rondos fürs Fortepiano, für Kenner und Liebhaber. Sechste Sammlung, Wq 61
01. Rondo I in E flat major, Wq 61/1
02-04. Sonata I in D major , Wq 61/2
05. Fantasia I in B flat major, Wq 61/3
06. Rondo II in D minor, Wq 61/4
07-09. Sonata II in E minor , Wq 61/5
10. Fantasia II in C major, Wq 61/6

11-13. Sonata in C minor, Wq 60
14. Rondo in E minor, Wq 66
15. Fantasie in F sharp minor, Wq 67
16-18. Sonata in D minor, Wq 69
19. Arioso mit 5 Variationen, H 535

CD 14
01-03. Clavier-Concert in F major, H 242
04-06. Clavier-Concert in F major, Wq 43/1
07-09. Clavier-Concert in D major, Wq 43/2
10-12. Clavier-Concert in E flat major, Wq 43/3
13. Polonaise in G major, H 340
14. Allegretto in D major, H 257
15. Allegro in D major, H 255
16. Fantasia in E flat major, H 348

CD 15
01-04. Clavier-Concert in C minor, Wq 43/4
05-07. Clavier-Concert in G major, Wq 43/5
08-10. Clavier-Concert in C major, Wq 43/6
11-13. Symphonie in G major, Wq 122/1
14-16. Symphonie in F major, Wq 122/2
17-19. Symphonie in E minor, Wq 122/3

CD 16
Clavier-Sonaten, die in verschiedenen Sammlungen einzeln gedruckt stehen, Wq 62
01-03. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 62/1
04-06. Sonata in G major, Wq 62/2
07-09. Sonata in D major, Wq 62/3
10-12. Sonata in D minor, Wq 62/4
13-15. Sonata in E major, Wq 62/5
16-18. Sonata in F minor, Wq 62/6
19-21. Sonata in C major, Wq 62/7

22. Marsch in D major, H 1/1
23. Polonaise in G minor, H 1/2
24. Marsch in G major, H 1/3
25. Polonaise in G minor, H 1/4

CD 17
Clavier-Sonaten, die in verschiedenen Sammlungen einzeln gedruckt stehen, Wq 62 II
01-03. Sonata in F major, Wq 62/8
04-06. Sonata in F major, Wq 62/9
07-09. Sonata in C major, Wq 62/10
10-12. Sonata in G major, Wq 62/11
13-17. Suite, Wq 62/12
18-20. Sonata in D major, Wq 62/13
21-23. Sonata in G major, Wq 62/14
24-26. Sonata in D minor, Wq 62/15
27-29. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 62/16

CD 18
Clavier-Sonaten, die in verschiedenen Sammlungen einzeln gedruckt stehen, Wq 62 (3)
01-03. Sonata in E major, Wq 62/17
04-06. Sonata in G minor, Wq 62/18
07-09. Sonata in G major, Wq 62/19
10-12. Sonata in C major, Wq 62/20
13-15. Sonata in A minor, Wq 62/21
16-18. Sonata in B minor, Wq 62/22
19-21. Sonata in G minor, Wq 62/23
22-24. Sonata in F major, Wq 62/24

25. Allegro in F major, H 256
26. Menuett in F major, H 258
27. L’Ernestine, Wq 199/16

CD 19
Sechs Sonaten, Wq 63, 1-06
01-03. Sonata in C major, Wq 63/1
04-06. Sonata in D minor, Wq 63/2
07-09. Sonata in A major, Wq 63/3
10-12. Sonata in B minor, Wq 63/4
13-15. Sonata in E flat major, Wq 63/5
16-18. Sonata in F minor, Wq 63/6

Sechs neue Sonatinen, Wq 63, 7-12
19. Sonatina in G major, Wq 63/7
20. Sonatina II in E major, Wq 63/8
21. Sonatina III in D major, Wq 63/9
22. Sonatina IV in B flat major, Wq 63/10
23. Sonatina V in F major, Wq 63/11
24. Sonatina VI in D minor, Wq 63/12

25-27. Symphonie in F major, Wq 122/5

CD 20
Sechs Sonatinen für das Clavier, Wq 64
01-04. Sonatina in F major, Wq 64/1
05-08. Sonatina in G major, Wq 64/2
09-11. Sonatina in A minor, Wq 64/3
12-15. Sonatina in E minor, Wq 64/4
16-18. Sonatina in D major, Wq 64/5
19-22. Sonatina in C minor, Wq 64/6

Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65
23-25. Sonata in F major, Wq 65/1
26-28. Sonata in A minor, Wq 65/2
29-31. Sonata in D minor, Wq 65/3

CD 21
Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65 (2)
01-06. Suite in E minor, Wq 65/4
07-10. Sonata in E minor, Wq 65/5
11-13. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/6
14-16. Sonata in E flat major, Wq 65/7
17-19. Sonata in C major, Wq 65/8
20-24. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 65/9
25-28. Sonata in A major, Wq 65/10
29-31. Sonata in G minor, Wq 65/11

CD 22
Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65 (3)
01-03. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/12
04-06. Sonata in B minor, Wq 65/13
07-09. Sonata in D major, Wq 65/14
10-12. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/15
13-15. Sonata in C major, Wq 65/16
16-18. Sonata in G minor, Wq 65/17
19-21. Sonata in F major, Wq 65/18

CD 23
Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65 (4)
01-03. Sonata in F major, Wq 65/19
04-06. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 65/20
07-09. Sonata in F major, Wq 65/21
10-12. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/22
13-15. Sonata in D minor, Wq 65/23
16-18. Sonata in D minor, Wq 65/24
19-21. Sonata in A minor, Wq 65/25
22-24. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/26
25-27. Sonata in G minor, Wq 65/27

CD 24
Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65 (5)
01-03. Sonata in E flat major, Wq 65/28
04-06. Sonata in E major, Wq 65/29
07-09. Sonata in E minor, Wq 65/30
10-12. Sonata in C minor, Wq 65/31
13-15. Sonata in A major, Wq 65/32
16-18. Sonata in A minor, Wq 65/33
19-21. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 65/34
22-24. Sonata in C major, Wq 65/35

CD 25
Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65 (6)
01-03. Sonata in C major, Wq 65/36
04-06. Sonata in A major, Wq 65/37
07-09. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 65/38
10-12. Sonata in E minor, Wq 65/39
13-15. Sonata in D major, Wq 65/40
16-18. Sonata in C major, Wq 65/41
19-21. Sonata in E flat major, Wq 65/42

CD 26
Vollständige Sammlung aller ungedruckten Clavier-Sonaten, Wq 65 (7)
01-03. Sonata in A major, Wq 65/43
04-05. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 65/44
06-08. Sonata in B flat major, Wq 65/45
09-11. Sonata in E major, Wq 65/46
12-14. Sonata in C major, Wq 65/47
15-17. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/48
18-20. Sonata in C minor, Wq 65/49
21-23. Sonata in G major, Wq 65/50

This 26-CD set containing CPE Bach’s complete solo piano works represents a landmark of the highest importance and, more significantly, listening pleasure. Ana-Marija Markovina has made a specialty of playing these works. She previously recorded the Prussian and Württemburg sonatas (for Genuin), but it is difficult to overstate the richness and variety found on these discs, or Markovina’s consistent success in rendering it all with such freshness, excitement, intensity, and charm. CPE Bach’s keyboard output consists primarily of sonatas, dozens of them, ranging over the entire course of his career, roughly from the 1740s through the 1780s. Most are three-movement pieces in fast-slow-fast form, but there are also rondos, fantasias, variations, character pieces, teaching pieces, arrangements of concertos and other orchestral works, dances, and everything from the very simple to the exceptionally complex, both technically and expressively—an entire world. More astonishingly, the quality of this music is almost uniformly high. Bach was a true craftsman, and while everyone will have their favorite works–and it’s pointless to say that it’s all equally good–you can sample just about anything on any of these discs and you will find plenty to enjoy and captivate your attention.

Markovina plays this music on the modern piano, the instrument that comes closest to any available in Bach’s day to realizing his clearly notated intentions. For example, he almost always asks for a full range of dynamics, from pp to ff, and his writings make clear that he valued above all a beautifully sustained, singing tone. The clavichord offered him the most possibilities in this regard at the start of his career, while in his last years his clear preference was for the piano (even though he had expressed reservations about early versions of the instrument in his 1750s Essay on the True Art of Playing the Keyboard). Markovina exploits the piano’s full dynamic range, as well as its ability to vary articulation, sustain the melodic line, and add muscle to Bach’s emphatic and often syncopated rhythmic schemes. In this respect she is far bolder than, say, Danny Driver’s genteel, almost effeminate CPE Bach recordings on Hyperion.

However, the most telling comparison has to be made with Miklós Spányi’s ongoing series of the complete keyboard works for BIS. Spányi uses period instruments, which have some advantages (the clavichord’s vibrato, for example), but also all of their inadequacies, including a lack of sustaining power and often a great deal of mechanical noise. On the piano, Bach’s music sounds modern; on early instruments, it sounds old. This contrast is exacerbated by Spányi’s inability to play a true allegro at speed. Consider, for example, the marvelous Sonata in B minor Wq. 65/13, which dates from the 1740s. The finale is marked “Allegro molto”. Spányi takes about six minutes (on the clavichord), Markovina slightly more than three. The difference in both sonority and expressive intensity is shocking, with Markovina infinitely more powerful and exciting.

CPE Bach’s modern reputation rests largely on his music in the “empfindsamer Stil”, with its highly expressive, emotionally eruptive, and constantly surprising writing; but a little-known aspect of this style was also the attempt to imbue music with a genuine sense of humor. Haydn, for example, learned a great deal from Bach’s pregnant use of silence. So rather than offer the usual examples of minor-key pathos, I offer as a listening sample the start of “L’Aly Rupalich”, a character piece also provisionally entitled “La Bach”, and possibly intended as a self-portrait of the composer. CPE Bach scholar Paul Corneilson describes the work as “a disco piece”, and how right he is.

Corneilson is also the Managing Editor of the Packard Humanities Institute’s ongoing CPE Bach Complete Edition, and it is largely thanks to that organization that this set of recordings has been made possible. CPE Bach fans, then, should be delighted to know that Corneilson has assembled an absolutely splendid volume of scores under the title The Essential C.P.E. Bach, containing 25 “greatest hits” from the composer’s keyboard, chamber, orchestral, and vocal music. Retailing for only $50, this beautifully printed, 350-page volume also contains excellent introductions to the composer as well as all of the music contained therein, a bibliography, a select discography, and a concordance that helps to locate each work by Wotquenne and Helm numbers.

Highlights include not only “L’Aly Rupalich”, a selection of sonatas, and the wonderful Rondo in E minor subtitled “Farewell to My Silberman Clavichord”, but also the Sonata for Unaccompanied Flute, the programmatic Sonata in C minor for Two Violins and Bass, and the amazingly dark Fantasia in F-sharp minor for Violin and Keyboard “CPE Bach’s Emotions”. There are also two complete symphonies, two complete concertos, and among the vocal pieces a bit of the celebrated Magnificat and the extraordinary Heilig for double chorus and double orchestra, a masterwork that everyone who loves Bach (Sr.) and Handel really must hear (there’s a fabulous performance on Harmonia Mundi).

300th Birthday of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach on March 8th, 2014.

First recording of the complete piano works by CPE Bach.

During his lifetime, CPE Bach was more famous than his father, Johann Sebastian; it is time to rediscover the incredible range and the quality of his once again.

Ana-Marija Markovina, the featured artist for these recordings, has been working for over ten years with the music of CPE Bach and has developed her own intuitive approach to his style.