The Bach family contributed to history with a great number of musicians of all kinds during 16th and 19th centuries, although it is true that nowadays Johann Sebastian (member of the fourth generation after the first Bach musician we know of, Johannes Bach) is considered as the most important figure in the family.

Based on his solid counterpoint, the Leipzig Master took the music of the Baroque to its ultimate expression and, moreover, filled it with matchless mysticism.

London, with its majestic river Thames flowing through it, was one of the most important musical centres of Europe. Throughout the 18th Century, the city experienced a remarkable growth. The many people that had moved to London for commerce, work or business purposes was a factor which led to its rapid development as a bustling city.

It is in this context that London attracted many musicians from all over Europe whowere looking to make a place for themselves in the intense musical life of the capital city. Such intense musical life is reflected in the enormous quantity of music printed by editors who had set up their base in London. In November, 1789, John Bland travelled to Esterhaza, where he met Joseph Haydn. In this encounter, Haydn undertook to write for Bland the three works which we can hear in this programme.

The Enlightenment had great influence in all aspects of daily life at the time, such as scientific, economical, political and social. Following its strong humanistic and cosmopolitan nature, groups of aristocrats, intellectuals and artists travelled freely throughout Europe.

Although Spain is not considered one of the main European music centres in the 18^th century, it is true that there was no lack of great musicians and important virtuosi. Many of them embraced the cosmopolitan ideas of the Enlightenment, and decided to travel abroad in search for both success and new, stimulating experiences.

Frederick the Great was not only a warlike sovereign with an ambition to expand unknown for the Europe of his time, but also a fine flute player who surrounded himself, in his court in Berlin, by the best composers of his days.

In such a context served Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (son to Johann Sebastian) and Johann Joachim Quantz, two composers whose oposing aesthetics are clearly reflected in their works.

In oposition to the degrading duties and work conditions in German courts, or from the provincialism which prevailed in the rest of the country, Hamburg, the metropolis of the north, was one of the most important musical centres in Germany.
The city was especially proud of their great harbour, “Germany’s gate to the world”. Thanks to it, the inhabitants of Hamburg were soon able to enjoy some prosperity, and did not hesitate to allocate part of their large profits for cultural purposes.

And thus the city, bastion of Protestantism, opened the first opera theatre in Germany. And just as London attracted musicians from all over Europe, the rich and liberal Hamburg became a focus of attraction for a great number of their German colleagues, who travelled there in search of an escape route.

Although in concerts nowadays it is not common to hear pieces that are arranged or adapted for instruments other than the original ones, this was a customary practice in the 18^th century. During this period it was not as important to “construct” or “reconstruct” an original version of a piece, as it was to present and defend the reasons for possible alternative versions. The double concept of “original” and “adaptation” or “arrangement” appeared during the 19^th century because of the way the musicians of the period related to music. Something that has continued until our days.

Although it is true that nowadays Johann Sebastian is considered as the most important figure in the family, this was not always so. Quickly forgotten by most in the late 18^th century, it was his children who actually exerted a big influence in the music of their time, each one of them with a distinct personal style, characteristic and differentiated from that of the other brothers.