The welltempered clavier wikipedia republished wiki 2. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. This is a fair use educational commentary that uses a performance. The rest is dealt with in her books vol 2, vol 3 and vol 4. Each part consists of twentyfour preludes and fugues, one prelude and one fugue in each of the twelve major and minor keys. The introduction covers topics like the origins of the wtc, the welltempered scale, the clavier at bachs time, the history of the prelude, and the background. Bachs fortyeight preludes and fugues also known as the welltempered clavier. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation, volume iii. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. Bachs welltempered clavier by siglind bruhn, october 1993, mainer intl ltd edition, paperback in english. 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.
What is the significance of the welltempered clavier. Incidentally, this subject is an example of double dotting or. This gives way to a triple motet fugue, with its even more solemn primary subject entering first in the tenor, then the soprano and bass. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Complete score of the welltempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open welltempered clavier project. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. Ive read your extremely useful article, how to learn a fugue, and i have started to practice the fugue accordingly. The fugues of the welltempered clavier is a site that provides interactive multimedia analyses of book i and portions of book ii of the wtc by johann sebastian bach. A proper analysis of js bachs well tempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. Volume ii deals with the preludes and fugues wtc i, nos. Subject in alto, ending on the first semiquaver sixteenth note of bar 4 f major. Each set contains twentyfour pairs of prelude and fugue. In the german of bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either.
Well tempered clavier book 1 from christiane jaccottet. All the fugues are entitled fughetta meaning little fugue, though the pieces. Interactive analyses of bach fugues with complete scores. S well tempered 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 welltempered clavier is a collection of two books of keyboard music. 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. The prelude begins with a hint of the aria from bachs goldberg variations, but immediately proves to be a wholly independent piece, although this fantasie, with its rhythmically varied treble melody, retains much of the arias solemnity. It is also said that the subject appears exactly 24 times in this fugue representing the 24 fugues in the first book of the well tempered clavier. This comprehensive work book on bachs welltempered clavier should be part of every pianists, piano teachers, and advanced piano amateurs library. May, 2017 nice transcription and very good playing. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. 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.
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. With all due respect, i believe such questions are rather absurd. It is the second prelude and fugue in the first book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an essential role in our collaborative presentation. Books i and ii, complete dover music for piano bach, johann sebastian on. Part i was completed at cothen in 1722, and part ii was completed at leipzig around 1740. 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.
A monument in the history of western music, the welltempered clavier represents not only the culmination of j. These preludefugue pairs cycle through all 24 possible major and minor tona. 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. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Click download or read online button to get johann sebastian bach well tempered clavier book now. The book is part iii of a fourvolume work that consists of various elements. The well tempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. Yo tomitas various very resourceful webspaces on the welltempered clavier are always worth the time see here on book 1, here on the sources of book 2, and a selection of midi files can be found here siglind bruhns website on analysis and interpretation of the welltempered clavier is very detailed and substantive see also above.
For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. Yo tomitas various very resourceful webspaces on the well tempered clavier are always worth the time see here on book 1, here on the sources of book 2, and a selection of midi files can be found here siglind bruhns website on analysis and interpretation of the well tempered clavier is very detailed and substantive see also above. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn has crafted 48 jewels of her own, 48 elegant and eloquent visualizations of bachs precious fugues. Richard atkinson analyzes the amazing counterpoint of the d major fugue from the welltempered clavier, book ii, by j. Book 1 dating from 1722 and book 2 from 1742 had pedagogical objectives. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The voices appear in the exposition in the unusual order of subject answer answer subject. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn. Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles. Please note the id wristband is for content id dispute purposes.
Model answers for the works in book i bwv 846869 i1 prelude and fugue in c major. The welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Bach fugue nr 22 b flat from well tempered clavier book. Im starting to learn bachs fugue in d major from book 1 of the welltempered clavier.
Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles found. He completed the first volume in cothen in 1722 and the second around 16 years later in leipzig. The book is part i of a fourvolume work that consists of various elements. Each book contains 24 relatively free, improvisatory preludes, each of which precedes a fugue. Johann sebastian bach well tempered clavier download ebook. Well tempered clavier public domain sheet music from the imslp.
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. Johann sebastian bach well tempered clavier download. Chapter 4 is an analysis of bachs fugue in e major from book ii of the welltempered clavier. Bach, fugue in e major, welltempered clavier, book ii. Indepth analysis and interpretation, volume iii 9789625800196 by bruhn, siglind and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Indepth analysis and interpretation, volume i 9789625800172 by bruhn, siglind and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. 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. In a conventional baroque fugue, the subject is first stated by itself. 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. An essential musical masterpiece, full of joy, pain, and passion, j. Bach fugue nr 22 b flat from well tempered clavier book 2.
The welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. 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. 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. Each piece is a prelude in various styles various dance forms, inventions, french style etc. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in sensibility that distinguish. The present article discusses pedagogical aspects aiming to contribute to teaching and learning bachs preludes of the welltempered clavier. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. The chapter considers the possible the relevance of such modes of hearing to eighteenthcentury listeners and employs certain. Book ii bwv 870893 ii1 prelude and fugue in c major. 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. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. If any pianist has the musicianship to undertake the well tempered clavier, he or she must surely have enough judgment to carefully page through the material, study it, and form their own judgments as to relative difficulty of the different pieces.
The collection is generally regarded as being among the most important works in the history of classical music. 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. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. The prelude is 38 bars long, and consists mostly of a repeating motif. Bachs well tempered clavier by siglind bruhn, october 1993, mainer intl ltd edition, paperback in english. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. Prelude and fugue in c minor, bwv 847, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Bachs well tempered clavier is now available on cd, and for download.
The best known of bachs clavier works is the famous set of preludes and fugues called the welltempered clavier. Dec 04, 2016 richard atkinson analyzes the amazing counterpoint of the d major fugue from the well tempered clavier, book ii, by j. This fugue in c major, the first fugue from the first book of bachs welltempered clavier, presents several interesting aspects. 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. Modern editions usually refer to both parts as the welltempered clavier, book i wtc i and the welltempered clavier, book ii wtc ii, respectively. The prelude in eb major from book 1 is sarabandelike. Richard atkinson analyzes the amazing counterpoint of the d major fugue from the well tempered clavier, book ii, by j. Feb 28, 2014 a monument in the history of western music, the well tempered clavier represents not only the culmination of j. Modern editions usually refer to both parts as the well tempered clavier, book i wtc i and the well tempered clavier, book ii wtc ii, respectively. Many consider the two books of the welltempered clavier bachs finest keyboard collection. 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.
A proper analysis of js bachs welltempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. Bach was apparently deeply engaged in keyboard works of an. Bachs own maturation process but also the impetus for the emerging style and structure of modern keyboard music. 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. This new recording, and score, were made possible by kimiko ishizaka, musescore, and over 900 fans who supported the project. Bachs welltempered clavier is now available on cd, and for download. A general introduction covers topics like the origins of the wtc, the welltempered scale, the clavier at bachs time, the history of the prelude and the background of fugue composition. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bachs. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and. But as you will see in our analysis, there are only 22 complete subjects. The well tempered clavier, or preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones, relating to the major third, that is, ut re mi, as well as those related to the minor third, that is, re mi fa.
926 235 1065 1239 1284 1067 112 1285 245 646 133 395 111 1054 1299 558 1443 452 428 803 682 1079 1426 1003 1206 590 1405 1503 616 676 450 242 133 806 1493 381 104 1210 901 1259