The Theme Characteristics Of J.C.Bach’s Keyboard Sonatas And Their Influence On Compositions In Classical Era

Johann Christian Bach, also referred to as J.C. Bach or "the London Bach", was an important composer in the history of Western music, during the transitional stage from Baroque period to Classical era. Being a representative of ornate style, he was the first one who gave a Piano concert throughout the world. As the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach (known as JS Bach), J.C. Bach had been under rigorous training in technical and creative skills since his childhood, and had gradually formed his own characteristics of music composing. Christian’s compositions covered a wide range of styles with truly-excellent works in Opera, Symphony, Four hands, Keyboard sonatas, and Keyboard concertos etc. Among all, his keyboard sonatas were lucid in sound body and pleasing in rhythm, unlike the sonata style produced by predecessors, which brought the "singing" allegro theme from Italy into Germany’s compositions, and laid a solid foundation for the more independent second theme in the sonata, forming a duality in the contrasting of sonata themes and promoting the historical development of Sonata. J.C. Bach’s creative approach in the opera, symphony and musical keyboard works exerted great influence on the style of Mozart, because of this, Mozart’s early works showed a great similarity of those produced by J.C. Bach. This further confirmed the great significance of Christian in the history of Western music and the necessity of research on his works’ value.By reviewing the historical materials, monographs, academic papers both home and abroad, the author sorted out and testified J.C. Bach’s sonatas and works, dividing the paper into four chapters. First of all, a brief introduction was made about Johann Christian Bach’s keyboard sonatas and personal life. Secondly, the sonata was traced back historically and a text analysis was made into J.C. Bach’s keyboard sonatas. Thirdly, from a technical perspective, an in-depth exploration and analysis was made the London Bach’s keyboard sonatas works, a specific and detailed interpretation being carried out on these works from the viewpoint of touch keys and playing techniques. In the final part, part of sonata from Christian, Mozart had been selected for a comparison, aiming at exploring the inheritance relationship among music works and interpreting the characteristics and historical significance of J.C. Bach’s sonata.