C.P.E. Bach and the Royal Sonatas

Four sonatas for flute and obbligato harpsichord by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

The 18th century was the golden age of the flute, characterized by great contributions in Germany, from Frederick II, King of Prussia. Not only did he play the flute even on the battlefield, but Berlin also assembled a phalanx of musicians who appreciated the expressive qualities of this royal instrument. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was among those musicians with a "sensitive" style, and also the accompanist of Frederick II, on the harpsichord at the Court. The two instruments share equal parts in his sonatas for flute and obbligato harpsichord.