Song the well tempered clavier, book 2, bwv 870 893. 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. 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. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an essential role in our collaborative presentation. The welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. The well tempered 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 two sets of 24 preludes and fugues book 1 dating from 1722 and book 2. 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. 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, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Apart from the early versions of several preludes included in w.
Eminent bachspecialist sir andras schiff here performs book i. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. 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. 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. Bachs welltempered clavier book 2 interpreted by s d. Jandos recordings of bach s well tempered clavier rank among his very bestbrilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play.
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 would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered clavier. The welltempered clavier, book ii 1740 complete recording by breemer, c. Bach bwv 884 prelude harmonic analysis with colored notes. 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. 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.
Motivations for jenckas approach involve an analysis of the possible logic. In jill crosslands own words, no other music is so perfect an integration of emotional. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. S welltempered clavier the, book 2 jando by johann sebastian bach. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. The first book of the welltempered clavier was composed in the early 1720s, with bachs autograph dated 1722.
Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn has crafted 48 jewels of her own, 48 elegant and eloquent visualizations of bachs precious fugues. The welltemperedclavier, book ii wtc 2 french title. 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. 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. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Indepth analysis and interpretation, volume 4 global art music education series j. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8.
Bachs welltempered clavier is one of the cornerstones of western classical music. 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. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. P415 in berlin staatsbibliothek is the only known copy of the wtc.
This is a fair use educational commentary that uses a performance. It was the ultimate workbook, open to constant change and refining by bach himself. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn. 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. If youre a devotee of a particular pianist in this repertoiregould, schiff, richter, kempff, etc. Bach gave the present title to the work, which was composed for the use and practice of musical youth eager to learn and for the amusement of those already skilled in this study. Open welltempered clavier bah to bach by robert douglass. A proper analysis of js bachs well tempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. Richard atkinson analyzes the amazing counterpoint of the d major fugue from the welltempered clavier, book ii, by j. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. Sep 07, 2017 the two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight.
Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles found. 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. One of the 48 pieces is dedicated to someone or something you love or honor. It is generally far more difficult than book 1 however, with greater technical and structural difficulty for the performer. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. The diagrams below show the results of our algorithms on two sets of fugues. 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. 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. Download a free and public domain recording and musical score. Bach the well tempered claiver book 2 feinberg youtube. The welltempered clavier, book 2 by peter hill on amazon music. Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier, book i. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bach s various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on.
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