Written in 1747 while C P E Bach was in Berlin, probably for his then employer Frederick the Great or for Fredericks teacher, J J Quantz, it was not printed until 1763. Like his father J S Bach, C P E Bach chose the key of A minor for his only compositon for solo flute but its structure is quite different to that of Bach senior.
Like J. S. Bachs Partita in A minor (BWV 1013), the sonata edited here is considered one of the most important works for solo flute of the eighteenth century. In contrast to J. S. Bachs composition which still represents the traditional, polyphonic and figurative style, the work of the young Bach displays great sensitivity and, occasionally, an almost romantic expressiveness.
This new edition of C. P. E. Bachs Sonata in A minor is based on a copy in the anthology "Musikalisches Mancherley"; the editor owes his thanks to the Zurrich Central Library.