Rondo in E-flat, H. 288
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's Rondo in E-flat major, H. 288, is a long, surprising piece in 2/4, Octotune grade 6 of 8: a graceful rondo tune that keeps returning, between journeys into unexpected keys.
At a glance
| Composer | Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate: grade 6 of 8 |
| Key | Key signature: 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭) |
| Time | 2/4 |
| Tempo | 66 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 248 measures, about 7:30 |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | F3 to F6 |
| Left hand | G♭1 to C5 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Rondo in E-flat, H. 288 | 6 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, a son of J. S. Bach, served Frederick the Great in Berlin for many years and then became music director in Hamburg. His keyboard music is known for its surprises: sudden changes of key, mood and loudness. This rondo in E-flat major (three flats) is a fine example, and a long one.
How it is built. A rondo returns again and again to its opening tune. This one starts on a pick-up, G B flat, and the right hand sings a graceful line over the left hand's repeated bass notes. Between the returns, Bach takes the music into unexpected keys before finding his way home.
The tricky parts
- Accidentals. Many, everywhere. In the far-off sections, write the note names in pencil where you need them.
- Changes of mood. Loud and soft, playful and serious, often without warning. Let each be itself.
- Quick decorations. Thirty-second notes and ornaments in the right hand. Octotune plays the short ornaments but doesn't wait for them.
- Length. Over seven minutes at the app's pace. Learn it in sections.
Practice plan
- The rondo tune first: hands separately in Wait for me, then together.
- One section at a time, with the loop set to it, at 50% speed.
- Join the sections, and play it through only once each part is secure.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 11, which teaches B flat and chords. Its flats and accidentals go well beyond it.
Questions
Who was C. P. E. Bach?
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788), a son of J. S. Bach. He was a court musician to Frederick the Great in Berlin and later music director in Hamburg, and one of the most admired keyboard composers of his time.
Is C. P. E. Bach's Rondo in E-flat hard?
It is an intermediate piece, Octotune grade 6 of 8, and long, over seven minutes at the app's pace. Its many accidentals and sudden changes of key are the main challenge.
Credits and license
- Music: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788)
- Typeset by Bas Wassink for the Mutopia Project
- License: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece