Carl Philipp Emanuel und Wilhelm Friedemann Bach und deren Brüder

Published in 1868, Karl Hermann Bitter’s biographical study of the Bach brothers, specifically Carl Philipp Emanuel and Wilhelm Friedemann, emerged during a mid-19th-century resurgence of interest in the lineage of J.S. Bach. At the time, musicological scholarship was shifting toward a more comprehensive understanding of the transition between the Baroque and Classical eras. Bitter, a Prussian statesman and dedicated music enthusiast, sought to elevate the reputation of the sons, whose works had often been overshadowed by their father's immense legacy.

The work was designed as a serious historical investigation into the personal lives and artistic contributions of the siblings, providing much-needed context for their stylistic departures from their father’s music. While the Bärenreiter edition remains a cornerstone for scholars examining the 18th-century German musical landscape, the text is now primarily regarded as a foundational historical document rather than a contemporary critical biography, reflecting the Romantic-era biases and the specific biographical standards of the late 1860s.