A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. The well tempered clavier, composed in 1722 and 1744 and widely considered bach s pinnacle of keyboard music, is divided into two books, each containing 24 preludes and fugues, with each prelude and fugue moving successfully upwards in key, starting with c major. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. Bach bwv 884 prelude harmonic analysis with colored notes. 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. This is a fair use educational commentary that uses a performance. Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles found. It is generally far more difficult than book 1 however, with greater technical and structural difficulty for the performer. Eminent bachspecialist sir andras schiff here performs book i. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. 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.
Completed by 1742, book 2 was intended as a complement to book 1, not as a replacement. One of the 48 pieces is dedicated to someone or something you love or honor. I would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered 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 the modern german spelling for the collection is. 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. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. Richard atkinson analyzes the amazing counterpoint of the d major fugue from the welltempered clavier, book ii, by j. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bach s various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on. Sep 07, 2017 the two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. 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. 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. Open welltempered clavier bah to bach by robert douglass. 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 bach s.
The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. 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. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn has crafted 48 jewels of her own, 48 elegant and eloquent visualizations of bachs precious fugues. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. It was the ultimate workbook, open to constant change and refining by bach himself. The welltempered clavier, book 2 by peter hill on amazon music. Computational analysis of fugues algomus algorithmic musicology. Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier, book i. Song the well tempered clavier, book 2, bwv 870 893. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an essential role in our collaborative presentation. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. Bachs welltempered clavier is one of the cornerstones of western classical music. The welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results.
The diagrams below show the results of our algorithms on two sets of fugues. Bach the well tempered claiver book 2 feinberg youtube. The welltempered clavier, book ii 1740 complete recording by breemer, c. Motivations for jenckas approach involve an analysis of the possible logic. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. 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 proper analysis of js bachs well tempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. P415 in berlin staatsbibliothek is the only known copy of the wtc. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. Bachs welltempered clavier book 2 interpreted by s d.
Overview and detailed comment sections the well tempered 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. Download a free and public domain recording and musical score. The welltemperedclavier, book ii wtc 2 french title. Aug 02, 2017 the preludes and fugues that make up bachs welltempered clavier operate on multiple levels at once theyre a compilation of techniques for keyboard writing, a polemic on the. Apart from the early versions of several preludes included in w. Bach swell 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.
If youre a devotee of a particular pianist in this repertoiregould, schiff, richter, kempff, etc. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. In jill crosslands own words, no other music is so perfect an integration of emotional. 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. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn. Jandos recordings of bach s well tempered clavier rank among his very bestbrilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play.
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