Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

If we travelled back in time and asked Haydn or Mozart for an opinion on Bach they would have assumed you meant Carl Philipp Emanuel rather than his father Johann Sebastian, as Bach senior was then considered to be totally out-of-date. C P E was born in 1714 and raised in a musical home but was encouraged to gain a wider education and so graduated in law in 1738. However Carl, as he was known to his family, never lost his love for music and in an unexpected turn of events was invited to join the staff of the musically inclined Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia in Berlin, where he remained for nearly 30 years. In 1767 Carl's godfather Telemann died and he successfully applied to replace him as Kantor of the Latin School and Director of Music in the principal churches of Hamburg. Here he continued to compose as prolifically as his illustrious father: symphonies, concertos, chamber music and church music but it was as a writer for the keyboard that he was best known. On this disc we have a selection of works including four sonatas as well as fugues and other pieces all played by the international organ virtuoso Thomas Trotter. The featured instrument is the beautiful Mitterreither organ of Eton College School Hall built in Rotterdam in 1773, moved to Eton in 1913, and rebuilt by Flentrop Orgelbouw of Zaandam in 1973. Thus it is the only authentic 18th century continental organ in Britain. It is a splendid recital, well recorded by Gary Cole and full of interest to all who enjoy organ music. It is not, though, of any great spiritual significance.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.