Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Bold, unpredictable, and deeply expressive, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach stands as one of the most fascinating figures of the Bach family. Living between the Baroque and Classical eras, he forged a musical voice marked by emotional intensity, striking contrasts, and daring harmonic imagination. His sinfonias in particular reveal a composer unafraid to challenge expectations, blending dramatic gestures with refined craftsmanship and a uniquely personal sense of expression.
Below, you’ll find detailed background on the works featured in this recording and the remarkable circumstances surrounding their survival and reconstruction:
The eldest of Johann Sebastian Bach's many sons, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was very possibly the most gifted of them all. Trained by his father, he cultivated a highly sensitive and refined musical language, as well as a bold and inventive style that was far ahead of his time. Yet his music is often misunderstood and underappreciated. As conductor Hartmut Haenchen explains in his liner notes, one of the reasons for this is that much of W.F. Bach's output has been destroyed or lost. This disc includes three world premiere recordings of sinfonias from Wilhelm Friedemann's cantatas, reconstructed and arranged by Haenchen after meticulous research into the whereabouts and condition of the original manuscripts.
The works recorded here are a showcase for W.F. Bach's astonishing versatility and the variety of musical idioms that he employs. The 'Dissonant' Sinfonia and the sinfonia from the cantata Fk88, for example, demonstrate a daring and unprecedented approach to harmony and counterpoint, while the sinfonia from Fk92 is more subtle and restrained, reminiscent of C.P.E. Bach's early Berlin Symphonies, but with a far more sophisticated harmonic structure. Also featured is the Suite in G minor, originally attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach.
🎵 Purchase, stream or download (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Presto, YouTube Music): brilliant-classics.lnk.to/WFBachSinfonias
🎬These tracks are available for sync licensing in videos, films, TV Shows, games, advertising, and more. For licensing inquiries: info@brilliantclassicslicensing.com
*Background Image: Waldlandschaft mit Sonnenaufgang (1809) By Joseph Rebell
Tracklist:
Composer: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Artists: Kammerorchester C.P.E. Bach, Hartmut Haenchen (conductor)
00:00:00 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: I. Vivace
00:04:19 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: II. Andante
00:07:25 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: III. Allegro
00:10:50 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: IV. Menuet No. 1 - Menuet No. 2
00:13:24 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 88 (Un poco allegro)
00:21:01 Sinfonia in D Minor, Fk 65 (Adagio – Allegro e forte)
00:30:24 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 64: I. Allegro e maestoso
00:34:06 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 64: II. Andante
00:36:46 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 64: III. Vivace
00:39:52 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 91
00:43:14 Sinfonia in G Major, Fk 92 (Allegro assai)
00:46:27 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: I. Larghetto - Un poco allegro
00:51:17 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: II. Torneo
00:53:30 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: III. Aria. Adagio
00:56:43 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: IV. Menuetto alternativo - Trio
01:01:22 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: V. Capriccio
Explore even more music: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qM1lclHDwXIxlaa1jDtslnFCEN846rm
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Thank you for watching this video by Brilliant Classics, we hope you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to share it and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#bach #brilliantclassics #sinfonia
Bold, unpredictable, and deeply expressive, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach stands as one of the most fascinating figures of the Bach family. Living between the Baroque and Classical eras, he forged a musical voice marked by emotional intensity, striking contrasts, and daring harmonic imagination. His sinfonias in particular reveal a composer unafraid to challenge expectations, blending dramatic gestures with refined craftsmanship and a uniquely personal sense of expression.
Below, you’ll find detailed background on the works featured in this recording and the remarkable circumstances surrounding their survival and reconstruction:
The eldest of Johann Sebastian Bach's many sons, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was very possibly the most gifted of them all. Trained by his father, he cultivated a highly sensitive and refined musical language, as well as a bold and inventive style that was far ahead of his time. Yet his music is often misunderstood and underappreciated. As conductor Hartmut Haenchen explains in his liner notes, one of the reasons for this is that much of W.F. Bach's output has been destroyed or lost. This disc includes three world premiere recordings of sinfonias from Wilhelm Friedemann's cantatas, reconstructed and arranged by Haenchen after meticulous research into the whereabouts and condition of the original manuscripts.
The works recorded here are a showcase for W.F. Bach's astonishing versatility and the variety of musical idioms that he employs. The 'Dissonant' Sinfonia and the sinfonia from the cantata Fk88, for example, demonstrate a daring and unprecedented approach to harmony and counterpoint, while the sinfonia from Fk92 is more subtle and restrained, reminiscent of C.P.E. Bach's early Berlin Symphonies, but with a far more sophisticated harmonic structure. Also featured is the Suite in G minor, originally attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach.
🎵 Purchase, stream or download (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Presto, YouTube Music): brilliant-classics.lnk.to/WFBachSinfonias
🎬These tracks are available for sync licensing in videos, films, TV Shows, games, advertising, and more. For licensing inquiries: info@brilliantclassicslicensing.com
*Background Image: Waldlandschaft mit Sonnenaufgang (1809) By Joseph Rebell
Tracklist:
Composer: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Artists: Kammerorchester C.P.E. Bach, Hartmut Haenchen (conductor)
00:00:00 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: I. Vivace
00:04:19 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: II. Andante
00:07:25 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: III. Allegro
00:10:50 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 67 “Dissonant”: IV. Menuet No. 1 - Menuet No. 2
00:13:24 Sinfonia in F Major, Fk 88 (Un poco allegro)
00:21:01 Sinfonia in D Minor, Fk 65 (Adagio – Allegro e forte)
00:30:24 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 64: I. Allegro e maestoso
00:34:06 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 64: II. Andante
00:36:46 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 64: III. Vivace
00:39:52 Sinfonia in D Major, Fk 91
00:43:14 Sinfonia in G Major, Fk 92 (Allegro assai)
00:46:27 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: I. Larghetto - Un poco allegro
00:51:17 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: II. Torneo
00:53:30 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: III. Aria. Adagio
00:56:43 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: IV. Menuetto alternativo - Trio
01:01:22 Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070: V. Capriccio
Explore even more music: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qM1lclHDwXIxlaa1jDtslnFCEN846rm
📲 Follow us on Social media: @BrilliantClassics
Thank you for watching this video by Brilliant Classics, we hope you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to share it and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
#bach #brilliantclassics #sinfonia
