One of the greatest achievements in musical composition history, the welltempered clavier of johann sebastian bach, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys. The part playing is a model of clarity, the fugues imbued with a wonderful musicality and mercifully without archaic notions of the subjects constantly having to draw. Some news from my research project on the welltempered clavier. Here she presents the first book of bachs greatest keyboard masterpiece. Welltempered clavier, which she recorded in 2018 on a modern instrument. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by johann sebastian bach. The welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv 846869 prelude fugue in c. For those that like to support the projects of online creators from as little as.
Johann sebastian bach bwv 846869 welltempered clavier i piano 1722. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. Bach prelude and fugue no 15 well tempered clavier, book 2 with harmonic pedal. Prelude and fugue in csharp major, bwv 848 wikipedia.
Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that. Bach prelude and fugue no 15 well tempered clavier, book 2 with. Pianist alexandra papstefanou performs the welltempered clavier, books i and ii in a complete 4cd recording of the works. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Bach the well tempered claiver book 2 feinberg youtube. Prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 870, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Bach, prelude and fugue c sharp minor from vol 2 of wtk by mikous100. Prelude d minor the prelude d minor is another piece that focuses on a specific keyboard skill here to arpeggiate chords of a basso continuotype chord progression. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742.
I happen to detest such an approach, and therefore find peter hills take on the well tempered clavier a breath of fresh air. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of. It is considered bachs most significant and extensive work for organ, containing some of his most musically complex and technically demanding compositions for that instrument. I know there have been discussions of ranking the difficulty of the well tempered clavier for example, bartok, but it is my understanding that those take into account the fugues as well. Musically, the structural regularities of the welltempered clavier encompass an. Download bach well tempered clavier public domain sheet. Prelude and fugue in c sharp major, bwv 848, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Prelude eb major the prelude in eb major is special in the sense that it hosts a fugue itself, with a more complex architecture than many of the actual fugues of the wtc. The c minor prelude of bachs welltempered clavier is very well known and needs no introduction. Almost all pianists approach these works as concert pieces, as part of the tradition that began in beethovens time, where the fugue subjects were highlighted for the supposed benefit of the audience.
From the palazzo labia, venice, 2000 the welltempered clavier book ii nikolai demidenko piano johann sebastian bach prelude. In bachs time clavier was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either the modern german spelling for the collection is. Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed. The c minor prelude from js bachs welltempered clavier, book 2. Prelude d major the prelude book 1 d major is composed in the style of a velocity exercise for the right hand, with the left hand contributing simple 4th note lines to accompany the flow of the 16th notes and emphasize the modulations. Prelude and fugue d major, bwv 850 well tempered clavier book i. Johann sebastian bachs well tempered clavier posts. Download a free and public domain recording and musical. Books i and ii, complete dover music for piano johann sebastian bach.
Bach js the well tempered clavier book 2 a fantastic cd and i am enjoying the music very much, the postage and packing was sufficient and it arrived in good time, thanks to seller. It is the first prelude and fugue in the second book of the welltempered clavier. Jsb introduces one of his rare tempo indications in the prelude, marking the second section of the prelude with presto. The welltempered clavier book 2 no 24 prelude in b minor bwv 893 johann sebastian bach. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. I purchased the welltempered clavier book one about 15 years ago, while taking piano lessons. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. Apart from the early versions of several preludes included in w. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the welltempered clavier book 1. The welltempered clavier, book i, bwv 846869 prelude fugue in c major, bwv 846. Bach set off on an unprecedented passage through all the tonalities available to him on the keyboard. Which one is your favorite prelude and fugue from bachs. While i couldnt play this music with any decency i was captivated by it in a way i hadnt been with other solo piano pieces.
Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. It finds its parallel in wfbs clavierbooklet nr 16 with only. For book 2, to view originals is a more complex exercise, given the lack of the one authoritative original from js bachs hand and the fragmentation of historical copies see the work of yo tomita for more info on this. The welltempered clavier, book 1 sviatoslav richter on allmusic 2011. Download bach well tempered clavier public domain sheet music from. Using the tuning which research suggests bach himself advocated, richard egarr completes his acclaimed project with this inspired reading of book ii, where bach after a decadelong genesis.
The first book of the welltempered clavier was composed in the early 1720s, with bachs autograph dated 1722. The welltempered clavier book two by rebecca pechefsky now. Well, no contradictions here for this bach is limpid and virile by turn, the resources of the piano pedal, dynamics, etc used throughout with exemplary taste and refinement. For those that like to support the projects of online creators from as little. Bachs klavierbuchlein 1720 there is an almost complete collection of prelude and fughetta versions predating the 1722 autograph, known from a later copy by an. A viewer pointed out my wrong note in the prelude of my previous.
Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book. He first gave the title to a book of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, dated 1722, composed for the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning. Most are three and fourvoiced fugues, and there are only two fivevoiced fugues. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. The wtc was written for the harpsichord, but is now mostly performed on its successor, the piano. In each of the two parts of the wohltemperirte clavier, he brought together the musical couple prelude and fugue 24 times.