The first fugue in the welltempered clavier is a beautiful introduction to the world of bachs fugues. Published within the signature series, a series of authoritative performing editions of. Bars 14 establish the key of c major and from bar 59, it moves away from the key of the dominant. Well tempered clavier book 1 from christiane jaccottet. Albert wong the welltempered clavier, book 2 preludes and fugues nos. Is book 2 any easier, or should i just keep working on what i have. The fugue has practically no episodes, and, as scholars have pointed out, the subject enters 24 times as a reference to the number of pf in book 1, which seems not to be a coincident, given jsbs fondness of number symbolic. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. The prelude and fugue in csharp minor, bwv 849, is a pair of keyboard compositions by johann sebastian bach. Im starting to learn bachs fugue in d major from book 1 of the welltempered clavier. Starting in the dominant key, it gently returns begins to return to the tonic key at bar 17.
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. Prelude and fugue in b minor, bwv 869 bach, johann sebastian. The score in the video can be downloaded from here. Check out the welltempered clavier, book 1, prelude and fugue no. Johann sebastian bach fugue 1, c major welltempered clavier, book i, bwv 846. Bach the well tempered clavier book 1 feinberg duration. Jun 16, 2016 check out the well tempered clavier, book 1, prelude and fugue no. Bachs welltempered clavier in all of the 24 major and minor keys wtc.
Pienaar shows great range in taking on the extraordinarily. The sheet music featured in this video is in the public domain and differs. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. Book 1 was written in 1722 towards the end of bachs period as capellmeister at cothen and book 2 appeared some twenty two years later in 1744.
I own book 1, and was considering buying book 2 because some of the pieces were too dificult. By building a major and minor diatonic 7 tones scale from each of the 12 semitones, we arrive at 24 keys, the complete circle of fifths, and the number of preludefugue pairs in each book of the welltempered clavier. The preludes and fugues that make up bachs welltempered clavier operate on multiple levels at once theyre a compilation of. The prelude is steadily and earnestly flowing, producing a polyphonic aria of rare beauty, similar to what js bach has achieved in book 1 prelude f. For this 2017 living archive release, the borromeo string quartet presents book i of johann sebastian bachs welltempered clavier in arrangements for string quartet by first violinist nicholas kitchen, though the project has yielded mixed results. The well tempered clavier collection of preludes and fugues in each of the from musc 2100 at clemson university. Shop and buy the well tempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. Fugue i in c major, bwv 846 well tempered clavier first. Though originally composed for luteharpsichord lautenwerck it has since been adapted for various instruments, including lute, piano and guitar. The welltempered clavier, book 1, prelude and fugue no. Piano solo sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750.
The well tempered clavier collection of preludes and. Piano, pianokeyboard sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so well cherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bachs. It is the first prelude and fugue in the second book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues in every major and minor key. Prelude and fugue in csharp minor, bwv 849 wikipedia. Notes from kimiko ishizakas open well tempered clavier. In a conventional baroque fugue, the subject is first stated by itself.
In thomas manns novel lotte in weimar an old goethe muses on the achievements of his youth and of his maturity the former the work of genius, the latter the work of greatness. The prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 846, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Prelude and fugue in c minor and well tempered clavier. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Ive read your extremely useful article, how to learn a fugue, and i have started to practice the fugue accordingly. The welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with. Bach adopted an identical overall plan, adding the five keys missing from.
Each part consists of twentyfour preludes and fugues, one prelude and one fugue in each of the twelve major and minor keys. It is the first prelude and fugue in the first book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. As a quintessential baroque fugue, bachs d major fugue from book 1 of the welltempered clavier will make for suitable illustration of how to analyze a fugue. Two more astonishing facts describe the essence of this fugue. Pienaar shows great range in taking on the extraordinarily wide range of styles represented in this body of work, and all four albums in this series prove. This fugue literally ends with the final note of the last complete subject entry. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. It arrived in great condition, ive only played one prelude from this book so far and im about to learn the fugue.
The well tempered clavier consists in its entirety of two books, each of 24 preludes and fugues, in which there is one for each major and minor key. Aug 14, 2010 which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier overall. First, it is one of the rare fugues with five voices there are two in book 1 of the well tempered clavier, and none in book 2. Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier overall. An exceptionally great welltempered clavier played with deep expressiveness and intelligence, danielben pienaar blends the gentle with the strong in this recording for a brilliant interpretation of johann sebastian bachs solo piano music. Oct 31, 2010 like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. Start studying prelude and fugue in c minor and well tempered clavier. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. It is a pedagogical work much in the spirit of the welltempered clavier, with which it shares. Keyboard duet bachs prelude in c major from the well. Bachs autograph fair copy in the possession of the staatsbibliothek zu berlin. A bonus is the inclusion of donald francis toveys classic analyses of each prelude and fugue, along with the editors helpful caveats.
This is a rerecording from my first, ave maria version of this prelude. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord. Prelude no 1 in c major, bwv 846 the welltempered clavier. The prelude and fugue in c sharp minor, bwv 849, is a pair of keyboard compositions by johann sebastian bach. A fugue is a style of musical composition where a theme melody is introduced, and then repeated in one or more other voices.
Prelude and fugue no 1 in c major from the well tempered. Shop and buy the welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. Part i was completed at cothen in 1722, and part ii was completed at leipzig around 1740. For this 2017 living archive release, the borromeo string quartet presents book i of johann sebastian bachs well tempered clavier in arrangements for string quartet by first violinist nicholas kitchen, though the project has yielded mixed results. For example, the piece that ends the cycle of book 1, the great bminor fugue, is so chromatic and convoluted that it shocks the modern ear with its complexity. Johann sebastian bachthe welltempered clavier prelude and fugue no. Sep 28, 2010 check out the welltempered clavier, book 1. The recording is performed by jeremiah jones and is 2 minutes and 38 seconds in length. At the start of the cycle, however, bach bluffs us with simplicity. Book 1, bwv 846869 prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 846 by andras schiff on amazon music. One, it is one of only two fugues in both books of the well tempered claiver in 5 voices the other is book 1, no.
An exceptionally great well tempered clavier played with deep expressiveness and intelligence, danielben pienaar blends the gentle with the strong in this recording for a brilliant interpretation of johann sebastian bachs solo piano music. Whatever you do, do not start with pieces traditionally used as exercises. By building a major and minor diatonic 7 tones scale from each of the 12 semitones, we arrive at 24 keys, the complete circle of fifths, and the number of prelude fugue pairs in each book of the well tempered clavier. In its whole, the welltempered clavier delves into some of the most complicated and compelling counterpoint ever written. Fugue no 1 in c major, bwv 846 the welltempered clavier. Prelude in c major original version was composed by johann sebastian bach. What is a program of pieces leading to the well tempered. Ends with perfect cadence in the key of the dominant. It is the fourth prelude and fugue in the first book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. My question is related to the structure of the fugue of this particular fugue as well as of fugues in general, which is not clear to me. An early version of the prelude, bwv 846a, is found in the klavierbuchlein fur wilhelm friedemann bach.
Lossy files have been converted with lame, mp3 vbr v0. Prelude and fugue no 1 in c major from the well tempered clavier book 1 from muar 211 at mcgill university. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. In its whole, the well tempered clavier delves into some of the most complicated and compelling counterpoint ever written. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed. The b minor fugue of book 2 refers us back both to the the f major fugue of book 1 which also draws on the rhythm of the passepied, and to the monumental final work in that volume with which it shares a key signature, and sets there a fresh set of associations, both for the dance and for the key of b. Youtube link of a performance of the fugue in f major with score is at.
In theory, the preludes and fugues of the wtc are just as eligible for transcribing as the goldberg variations and the art of the fugue have been. Incidentally, this subject is an example of double dotting or. First, it is one of the rare fugues with five voices there are two in book 1 of the welltempered clavier, and none in book 2. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. Johann sebastian bachthe welltempered clavier prelude. The sinfonias 3part are super challenging and deceptively so. Js bach, the welltempered clavier, book i, fugue no 1 in c major. It is the fourth prelude and fugue in the first book of the well tempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed comments. Master tracks available here lossless files are 96 khz24bit, compressed with flac. Shop and buy well tempered clavier book 2 sheet music. Andras schiff and the bach project the washington post. It is tempting to imagine that bach chose these details as clever, creative constraints. The best known of bachs clavier works is the famous set of preludes and fugues called the welltempered clavier.
Provided to youtube by sony music entertainment the well tempered clavier, book 1. The welltemperedclavier, book i part 1 wtc 1 french title. Well tempered clavier book i, fugue c major the fugue c maj is a beautifully flowing piece of music, which is seemingly the perfect choice to be the introductory fugue to book 1. Prelude in c minor, bwv 999, also termed the little prelude in c minor, is a piece written by johann sebastian bach sometime between 1717 and 1723. Well tempered clavier book 2 by johann sebastian bach.
I decided to record this work again in the original form which omits measure 23 of my. Johann sebastian bachthe welltempered clavier prelude and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The fugue has practically no episodes, and, as scholars have pointed out, the subject enters 24 times as a reference to the number of pf in book 1, which seems not. May 10, 2012 johann sebastian bach the well tempered clavier.
Lossless files are 96 khz24bit, compressed with flac. The welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 by johann. Prelude and fugue in b minor, bwv 869 bach, johann sebastian movementssections movtssecs. One, it is one of only two fugues in both books of the welltempered claiver in 5 voices the other is book 1, no.
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