Sonatas for Flute and Basso continuo Volume II

C P E Bach Sonatas for Flute and Basso continuo Volume II

The two sonatas for flute and basso continuo in A minor and D major originate from the period of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s activity at the Prussian Court at Potsdam and Berlin as accompanist to Frederick the Great.  One may assume that just like other works for flute of that period, these also were written for the king or his teacher Johann Joachim Quantz.  

But Frederick the Great did not particularly hold in esteem the bold and futuristic style of his harpsichord player and preferred the elegant and skilful accompanist to the composer who was admired by his contemporaries.  The “Berlin” Bach did dare to be “original in the midst of imitators” as the English music historian Charles Burney stated, and thereby placed himself more and more in sharp contrast to the music circle at Frederick’s court.