This 45minute video lesson explores an indepth look at the prelude and fugue in g major from the welltempered clavier, book 2 by j. S welltempered clavier the, book 2 landowska 19511954 wanda landowska, who continued to perform and record up to her death in 1959, was renowned as the greatest harpsichordist of the first half of the twentieth century. Bach the well tempered claiver book 2 feinberg youtube. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in. Also all the pitches of the fugue subject although not in the same order can be found in the first two measures of the prelude. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. In each book the first prelude and fugue is in c major, followed by a prelude. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. Prelude and fugue, for organ in g details allmusic. Bach wrote the second set of 24 preludes and fugues some sixteen years after the first one.
It is also possible, given the date, that bach presented the book as a. Wtc book 2, prelude and fugue in g major, bwv 884 by walter gieseking piano on amazon music. The prelude and the fugue of bwv 861 are set in g minor, requiring a key signature of two flats. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. 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. Areas of focus include contrapuntal techniques, articulation, melodic shaping, interpretation including varying interpretation on the repeats, long lines, ornamentation, and baroque stylistic elements to help you become as efficient as possible in.
The relatively short prelude is followed by an equally exuberant fugue. 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. 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. In bwv 535a, the g minor key is notated in the old manner, a single flat in the key signature, while in the finished bwv 535 of a decade or so later, bach adopts the more modern two flat key signature for g minor.
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. Preserving the rich texture of the original by using the. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. Prelude and fugue in f major, bwv 856 from wtc i a guide to. The prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 846, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach.
The fugue is in three parts, and in his classic book on the wohltemperirte clavier from. In bach s 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. Anne in published by dover in organ music isbn 0486223590, and 566, the toccata and fugue in e major is published by dover in toccatas, fantasias. The welltempered clavier, book i volume 2, bwv 854861. Bach later compiled a second book of the same kind, dated 1742, but titled it only twentyfour preludes and fugues. The two works are now usually considered to comprise the welltempered clavier and are referred to respectively as books i and ii. 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. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Welltempered clavier, book 1 by kimiko ishizaka, released 19 march 2015 1. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces for organ, choir, as well as many other instruments. The fugues subject and countersubject are extremely expressive and so contrasted.
A fugue of unusual construction, in the few entries of the subject, and the very large proportion of episode. He was born on or near march 21 1685 and died on july 28, 1750. Prelude the first 2 measures of the prelude are an elaboration of tonic. The other connection between prelude and fugue is the meter.
An early version of the prelude, bwv 846a, is found in the klavierbuchlein fur wilhelm friedemann bach. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist. By this time the fugue was more or less out of fashion, and bach had begun to attract some criticism for his unnaturally intricate style of composition. The welltempered clavier i by pierrelaurent aimard. The welltempered clavier, book 2 johann sebastian bach. Bechstein centrum berlin prelude and fugue g major from the second book of the welltempered clavier german. An important feature of the fugue is its two pedal points bars 61 to 65, and 76 to 82. His works such as the brandenburg concertos are known for their technical depth and artistic beauty. This is what really good counterpoint is all about. Prelude and fugue d major, bwv 850 well tempered clavier book i. 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.