Final answer:
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach is the composer most closely associated with the Empfindsamer Stil, which emphasizes emotional expression and was a precursor to the Romantic era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The composer most closely associated with the Empfindsamer Stil, also known as the 'sensitive style', is Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. This style is characterized by a focus on expressiveness and often features unexpected changes in harmony, dynamic contrasts, and a close connection to the emotions conveyed by the music. The Empfindsamer Stil is an important precursor to the Romantic era, which further developed the expression of emotion in music. While composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn are well-known for their contributions to the classical era, and Ludwig van Beethoven is recognized for his bridging of the Classical and Romantic periods, it is C.P.E. Bach who is most strongly linked to the sensibility of the Empfindsamer Stil, paving the way for the emotive music of the Romantic era.