The welltempered clavier book 1 presents an incredible variety of beautiful and partly highly sophisticated keyboard pieces, each of which it makes sense to devote time to. 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. Internal evidence for this may be seen in the fact that in book 1 bach paired the e. Learn about the welltempered clavier by baroque german composer, j. Fugue in c major, bwv 846 animated score and analysis. Jul 30, 2014 a well tempered clavier keyboard instrument was one that was so tuned it was possible to play in all keys and to modulate freely. It is the only episode of the season to not be written by either jonathan nolan or lisa joy, but rather by individuals who had worked with the two of them in their previous endeavors dietz with nolan on person of interest and lingenfelter with joy on pushing daisies. This is a fair use educational commentary that uses a performancerecording of. 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.
The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. The first part of the wohltemperirte clavier dates from 1722, although it contains some music that was written in the preceding five years. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of. Part i was completed at cothen in 1722, and part ii was completed at leipzig around 1740. Bach preludes and fugues 24 well tempered clavier, book 1.
This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew. The welltempered clavier, book 1 queens university belfast. When we follow the trail of the words historical significance, we ultimately arrive at the history of. 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 well tempered clavier is two books of music for solo keyboard by js bach, the first written in 1722, and the second twenty years later in 1742. Bachs welltempered clavier has been analyzed from almost every angle. Of matthesons numerous books on music, the most important is the lexicon grundlage. Prelude c minor the c min prelude of book 1 finds a parallel in wilhelm friedemann bachs clavierbuchlein keyboard booklet and, as ledbetter points out, it is quite clearly an exercise to make all fingers of both hands busy which, today, may seem nothing special, but at jsbs time it was a rather modern concept. This comprehensive, indepth work book on bachs welltempered clavier should be part of. For both the education of the industrious musical youngster and the enjoyment of those wellversed in this material. Hearing and understanding everything that is going on is not straightforward, and it is not something that can be achieved just by listening, even after many repeat listenings. John barnes analyzed the welltempered clavier s majorkey. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an essential role in our collaborative presentation. Bach compiled this second manuscript only around 1740, although once again some of the preludes and fugues it contains date from a much earlier period. Many consider the two books of the welltempered clavier bachs finest keyboard collection.
Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. As the title indicates, bach wrote the welltempered clavier in kothen in 1722 and. He completed the first volume in cothen in 1722 and the second around 16 years later in leipzig. Oct 17, 2016 bach bwv 847 fugue harmonic analysis with colored notes well tempered clavier, book 1 fugue 2. The best known of bachs clavier works is the famous set of preludes and fugues called the welltempered clavier. Analysis of c sharp minor fugue from bachs well tempered clavier, book i.
It finds its parallel in wfbs clavier booklet nr 16 with only 15bars there. A serene bass and a hottempered upper voice argue in the prelude, ending in a fugue that is a. A general introduction covers topics like the origins of the wtc, the well tempered scale, the clavier at bachs time, the history of the prelude and the background of fugue composition. This is especially true for the longer pieces, only few can really understand those in detail merely based on musical instinct and talent i, for instance, cant. Bachs autograph fair copy in the possession of the.
Prelude and fugue in c minor welltempered clavier, book ii, no. Glenn gould 1932 1982 bach the welltempered clavier. The prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 846, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Analysis of dsharp minor fugue from the welltempered clavier, book i. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. Bach bwv 847 fugue harmonic analysis with colored notes well.
During much of the 20th century it was assumed that bach. Well tempered clavier book 1 from christiane jaccottet. This edition of johann sebastian bachs famous keyboard work the well tempered clavier was edited by ferruccio busoni, who also added historical information and a large number of performance notes that will relate to piano performance. There is less clarity about the history of part two. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn.
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. Richard atkinson analyzes the amazing counterpoint of the d major fugue from the welltempered clavier, book ii, by j. A general introduction covers topics like the origins of the wtc, the well tempered scale, the clavier at bachs time, the history of the prelude, and the background of fugue composition. The book is part i of a fourvolume work that consists of various elements. Learn about welltempered clavier by js bach from the baroque era. Production the well tempered clavier was written by dan dietz and katherine lingenfelter, and was directed by michelle maclaren. An early version of the prelude, bwv 846a, is found in the klavierbuchlein fur wilhelm friedemann bach.
The two sets of 24 preludes and fugues book 1 dating from 1722 and book 2. Both books consist of 24 preludes and fugues going through all the keys, a total of 48 pieces in each volume, though some recordings give 24 tracks, one for each key covered. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on. Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles found. The five notes also contain one of the tensest intervals a diminished 4th. Fugue in c major, bwv 870 animated score and analysis. This collection is regarded as one of the best works in the vast history of. Many performers touch the first aspect only briefly and focus on the flow of the music, to be able to express the inner beauty of the work. Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed. The prelude in c major that opens the first volume of bachs well tempered clavier may well be his most universally recognized piece of music and yet, as fate would have it, many of those who know it have never heard the fugue for which it is a prelude, and might in fact have no idea that it is part of a larger work that counts among the most significant and groundbreaking musical efforts. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. Most of bachs fugues are character pieces of the highest type.
Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Each part consists of twentyfour preludes and fugues, one prelude and one fugue in each of the twelve major and minor keys. Composition history, later significance and influence, what tuning did bach intend. Bachs well tempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation. Aug 14, 2011 licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. This comprehensive, indepth work book on bachs welltempered clavier. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn has crafted 48 jewels of her own, 48 elegant and eloquent visualizations of bachs precious fugues. Bach crafted the second book roughly 20 years after the first book, titled the. Prelude eb minor the 8th pfpair of book 1 is unusual in the sense that prelude and fugue are notated in different keys. This comprehensive work book on bachs welltempered clavier should be part of every. Bachs well tempered clavier by siglind bruhn, october 1993, mainer intl ltd edition, paperback in english. The well tempered clavier, book one, prelude and fugue no. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for.
Bachs welltempered clavier or the 48 preludes and fugues stands at the core of baroque keyboard music and has been a model and inspiration for performers and composers ever since it was written. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for solo keyboard of the baroque era. Bachs welltempered clavier is one of the cornerstones of western classical music. This type of fugue formed the pinnacle of the art of composition, and bach was expert at it. Sep 25, 2015 bach bwv 846 prelude harmonic analysis with colored notes well tempered clavier, book 1 prelude 1 duration. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. A proper analysis of js bachs welltempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. 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.
Well tempered clavier flashcards and study sets quizlet. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and. Bachs welltempered clavier a video for the curious but it is also very complex music, with many voices doing many things at the same time. Analysis of dsharp minor fugue from the welltempered clavier. 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. Unless youre angela hewitt or glenn gould i would recommend mastering only a select few preludes and fugues rather than being okay at all of them. The fugues of the well tempered clavier is a site that provides interactive multimedia analyses of book i and portions of book ii of the wtc by johann sebastian bach. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. Bachswell tempered clavier or the 48 preludes and fugues stands at the core of baroque keyboard music and has been a model and inspiration for performers and composers ever since it was written. In its whole, the well tempered clavier delves into some of the most complicated and compelling counterpoint ever written.
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