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. Assignment 1 analysis of bach prelude in c major wtc 11 due. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Analyze the prelude and fugue from bachs welltempered clavier. What is your favorite tune from the well tempered clavier. Theres even one by yours truly of a 36cd brilliant classics collection containing the complete scarlatti keyboard sonatas. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. Hewitts recordings of the well tempered clavier recent rerelease peter bright wrote february 25, 2008. Bachs welltempered clavier book 2 interpreted by s d. The welltempered clavier is a great example of how much variety is possible to achieve in this genre. Which published edition of this work would you all recommend for me so that i can get the fingering right. The welltempered clavier is a collection of two books of keyboard music. The fugue also has its roots from the ensemble chansons of the 16th century as well as the ricercari of the 16th and 17th centuries. Ishizaka plays the 24 preludes and fugues with impeccable taste and technique, finding many levels of musical meaning even as she brings utmost clarity to the multiplicity of textures.
A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord. Each of these fugues were proceeded by a prelude in the same key. I received a copy of this book for free through a goodreads first reads giveaway. Bachs welltempered clavier book 2 interpreted by s d rodrian addeddate 20051009 18. Book 1 and book 2 of the well tempered clavier are 2cds each not full cds though, so only the 4cd set contains the complete work. He is a strong technician, accurate and precise, but i frankly dont really care. His works such as the brandenburg concertos are known for their technical depth and artistic beauty. As opposed to a full orchestral score, in a fugue written for keyboard instrument which is to say with all its voices condensed onto two staves which voice is which is by no means always selfevident. 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. No wonder that bachs contemporaries sometimes found him hard to follow, so ferociously was he prepared to think about and develop the implications of genre.
Motivations for jenckas approach involve an analysis of the. The c minor prelude from js bachs welltempered clavier, book 2. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. Some of the links listed below are not yet open to the public, given that this website is work in progress.
Well, bachs solo keyboard music is his finest work and twtc book 2 could be the finest of his finest work. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an. Towards the end of last year, hyperion rereleased angela hewitts recordings of the well tempered clavier from the late 1990s in a budget boxed set. Prelude and fugue in c minor, from the welltempered clavier, books 1. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in sensibility that distinguish the second volume of the. A double fugue is distinctly different from a fugue with a single subject and one or more countersubjects.
Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier overall. 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. 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. What is the significance of the welltempered clavier. Each book contains 24 relatively free, improvisatory preludes, each of which precedes a fugue.
Take this example from the csharp minor fugue of book 1 of bachs welltempered clavier. The welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Most double fugues have a strong sectional organization, with different sections highlighting.
Aldwell, a noted music theorist preoccupied with analysis, projects the bloodless world of a modern academic. In some of the areas, the fingering is driving me crazy. Bachs inscription on the cover of book i the welltempered clavier, composed in 1722 and 1744 and widely considered bachs pinnacle of keyboard music, is divided into two books, each containing 24 preludes and fugues, with each prelude and fugue moving. The term is modeled on the german word wohltemperiert. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. Counterpoint is a term derived from the latin that mean point note against point note. The final measures of johann sebastian bachs fugue no. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. Weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. Ive read your extremely useful article, how to learn a fugue, and i have started to practice the fugue accordingly. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles found in this. Is book 2 any easier, or should i just keep working on what i have.
Bachs welltempered clavier, performed by kimiko ishizaka on the piano. The introduction put me off a bit, as it seemed like it was going to be way too deep for my understanding of both cities and music yes, music. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn. I own book 1, and was considering buying book 2 because some of the pieces were too dificult. 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. 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. 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 clavier book 1 feinberg youtube. In 1722, johann sebastian bach published a book of 24 fugues in each of the 12 major and minor keys. Im starting to learn bachs fugue in d major from book 1 of the welltempered clavier. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. Le premier livre a ete compile en 1722 lorsque bach travaillait a kothen. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. These preludefugue pairs cycle through all 24 possible major and minor tona. We present here a computational analysis of fugues, trying to automatically. 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 most amazing performance of the book ii of the well. The fugue is believed to have developed from the canon which appeared during the th century. The two sets of 24 preludes and fugues book 1 dating from 1722 and book 2 from 1742 had pedagogical objectives. The analysis of a fugue requires an understanding of its structure. The present article discusses pedagogical aspects aiming to contribute to teaching and learning bachs preludes of the welltempered clavier. Ut re mi, as well as those related to the minor third, that is, re mi fa. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn has crafted 48 jewels of her own, 48 elegant and eloquent visualizations of bachs precious fugues.
Well temperament also good temperament, circular or circulating temperament is a type of tempered tuning described in 20thcentury music theory. Compiled and prepared for the benefit and practice of young musicians desirous of learning, as well as for the entertainment of those already versed in this. Books i and ii pieterjan belder hpd period instruments brilliant 93892 4 cds. The welltempered city was a far more fascinating read than i had assumed when reading the title and description. If you have the time and patience to listen to the complete cycle of wtc book 1 approx 2 hrs in one sitting, and can repeat the experience several times, you will eventually find that just about all the preludes and fugues are equally fascinatin. Bach used these preludes to demonstrate techniques, fingering and composition. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist. Discussion in music corner started by brstp, feb 1, 2007. 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 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.
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