Some of the preludes individually are much easier the first prelude in c major, for example, but these are usually learned in pairs as a prelude fugue, which bumps up the overall difficulty. The prelude and fugue in eflat major could be interpreted in this way. 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. Bach, fugue in e major, welltempered clavier, book ii, bwv. It is the first prelude and fugue in the second book of the welltempered. 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. There are many ways you can support the school of music at nau, including monetary giving that helps us keep our music programs strong. The welltempered clavier, book 1 angela hewitt on allmusic 1998. Chords, melody, and music theory analysis of prelude no 1 in c major by johann sebastian bach. The p book 1 emaj is a very gratifying piece of music. Dec 01, 2010 the e flat major fugue, for me, is the contentedness that follows after such a silly family moment.
The prelude and fugue in e flat major could be interpreted in this way. Bach the well tempered clavier, book i, bwv 846869. The only theoretical irregularity in this fourpart double fugue is the extra semiquaver. The 14 notes long subject is said to be related to bach s name. Its pastoral character is similar to various other works of jsb, such as the p book 2 amaj, or the sinfonia nr 6 emaj. Prelude eb minor the 8th pfpair of book 1 is unusual in the sense that prelude and fugue are notated in different keys. Prelude no 1 in c major by johann sebastian bach chords. Fugue e major the fugue in e major complements the lovely p with a nicely flowing ductus. Prelude and fugue in d major, bwv 850 bach, johann sebastian. Most of the collection is around a henle level 56 rcm grade 10arct. A fugue of unusual construction, in the few entries of the subject, and the very large proportion of episode. Fb, and the syncopated half notesthese will all work magic over the course of the fugue in e major. Johann sebastian bach prelude and fugue in d major, bwv 850. Bach, fugue in e major, welltempered clavier, book ii, bwv 878.
Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed comments to p. Fischer s ariadne musica neoorganoedum published in 1702 and reissued 1715 is a set of 20 preludefugue pairs in ten major and nine minor keys and the phrygian mode, plus five chorale based ricercars. Donations in support of the charity help musicians and julian perkins. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. 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 aflat major from welltempered clavier.
An important feature of the fugue is its two pedal points bars 61 to 65, and 76 to 82. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys. Analysis of bachs fugue bwv 847 in c minor wtc i jose rodriguez alvira 2011 jose rodriguez alvira. A short motif of eight notes, which always has a rising, questioning end, is repeated about fifteen times in every key, so to speak. Prelude and fugue in f major, bwv 856 from wtc i a guide to. In a conventional baroque fugue, the subject is first stated by itself. In the prelude in three sections, at least, an interesting question appears to be raised. Bach knew the collection and borrowed some of the themes from fischer for the welltempered clavier.
Chapter 4 is an analysis of bachs fugue in e major from book ii of the well tempered clavier. The other connection between prelude and fugue is the meter. Chapter 4 is an analysis of bach s fugue in e major from book ii of the welltempered clavier. The analysis employs the sdpc gis introduced in chapter 1 to explore the ways in which the fugue subject takes on the hues of its shifting tonal surroundings. The fugues subject and countersubject are extremely expressive and so contrasted. The analysis employs the sdpc gis introduced in chapter 1 to. The object of the present analysis is to place in the hands of students a detailed and exhaustive scheme of every prelude and fugue. Prelude and fugue in d major, bwv 850 bach, johann sebastian movementssections. Its subject commences with a two note statement similar to the one note statement in the f book1amaj, which is followed by a stream of 16th notes, leading over into the counter subject, which accompanies the subject entries on a regular basis. Apr 22, 2017 most of the collection is around a henle level 56 rcm grade 10arct.
A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of. It is like a 16th century motet and full of suspensions 50 in all. 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. The eflat major fugue, for me, is the contentedness that follows after such a silly family moment. The welltempered clavier i by pierrelaurent aimard. This prelude is nothing less than a toccata and double fugue, tovey states at the beginning of his annotation to the prelude in eflat major from book 1 ofthe welltempered clavierand later, on the fugue that occupies bars 2570 of the prelude. The well tempered clavier, book i, bwv 846869 prelude in fugue no. This is one of the longer preludes in the welltempered clavier, book 2, a rolling allemande with irregular melodic phrases that flow one into the next. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. With a renewed, more optimistic perspective on life again, the fugue is almost entirely free of drama or angst. 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. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes.
A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. Bar 14 is made to perform a double duty 1 as a concluding bar of period ii, and 2 as a connecting bar to period iii, as dominant 7th being placed upon it to lead to the key of a major. In each book the first prelude and fugue is in c major, followed by a prelude and. Johann sebastian bach was as the father of music who devoted himself to music education in his later years and brought great influence to the classical music world. The preludes of the welltempered clavier, volume i, of johann. Hewitts uncommonly brisk and elegantly poised g sharp minor book 2 fugue has acquired conversational light and shade. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces for organ, choir, as well as many other instruments. Also all the pitches of the fugue subject although not in the same order can be found. It is also said that the subject appears exactly 24 times in this fugue representing the 24 fugues in the first book of the welltempered clavier.
Rubati hinted at earlier reemerge in fuller, more purposeful bloom. Prelude and fugue in f minor from welltempered clavier book. There are 2 books of the welltempered clavier, with 24 pieces, each consisting of a prelude and fugue. Incidentally, this subject is an example of double dotting or.
Prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 870, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. A detailed analysis of bachs 48 preludes and fugues. Bach makes the key of e major perfectly clear through the sustained notes that announce the prelude s beginning. 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. This is what really good counterpoint is all about. The 2nd prelude, in cminor, is a dramatic, almost mechanical creation where the piece has tempo indications from bach, a rarity, in that bar 28 is marked. Subject in alto, ending on the first semiquaver sixteenth note of beat 3, bar 2 e major.
The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. Some of the preludes individually are much easier the first prelude in c major, for example, but these are usually learned in pairs as a preludefugue, which bumps up the overall difficulty. The prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 846, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Furthermore, some two hundred years before bachs time, equal. Chapter 4 is an analysis of bachs fugue in e major from book ii of the welltempered clavier. An early version of the prelude, bwv 846a, is found in the klavierbuchlein fur wilhelm friedemann bach. Preserving the rich texture of the original by using the. The welltempered clavier, a collection of solo keyboard music harpsichord, was a good example.
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. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. The tempi cluster around a mean, with little contrast. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an. What is left of the phrase consists of a spacious cadence on the dominant, a peaceful gesture, coming as it does so close to the begin ning of the composition. In existing analyses of the 48 preludes and fugues. Bach makes the key of e major perfectly clear through the sustained notes that announce the preludes beginning.
In each of the two parts of the wohltemperirte clavier, he brought together the musical couple prelude and fugue 24 times. The 14 notes long subject is said to be related to bachs name. But as you will see in our analysis, there are only 22 complete subjects. Prelude and fugue in f minor, from welltempered clavier book i johann sebastian bach.
202 877 1311 176 1347 1449 634 250 408 1514 1382 870 794 959 1242 1519 432 312 315 783 676 433 1404 1028 1478 2 1423 1583 1241 1061 1054 546 632 844 542 725