Miklos Spanyi

Although the clavichord may be the simplest key instrument among pianos, it can command over the greatest expressive possibilities. The term clavichord first turns up in the 'Minneregal' from 1404. For the most part of its history, the clavichord was used as practice-, study-, or composition instrument. What is special about the instrument is its ability to modulate the expressivities of the tone in the keystroke. For this reason historical performance experienced a revival. It is not surprising that the first forceful interest for the instrument materialized during the Sturm and Drang period, more expressly by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788). His compositions are characterized by the 'empfindsame Stil' and motif variations, which make him the essential Rococo artist. C. Ph. E. Bach had a great influence on Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), not in the least due to his Prussian Sonatas. As Haydn confessed: "Those who have a thorough knowledge of my work, must be aware of how much I owe to Emanuel Bach. … When Emanuel died - just as in the case of father Bach - a whole period of style went from stage." The two Haydn Sonatas are from 1773 and 1776, a period when his opera 'L'infedeltà delusa' premiered and the Haffnerserenade by W. A. Mozart was first performed.