A proper analysis of js bachs welltempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. It is the fourth prelude and fugue in the first book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. Bach in the fugue expositions of the well tempered clavier and that of paul hindemith in the fugue expositions of the ludus tonalis. 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. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. Subject and countersubject detection for analysis of the well.
The welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. For close to two centuries the preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier wtc have occupied a central position in the canon of piano pedagogy. Well tempered clavier book 1 from christiane jaccottet. 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 invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew. This prelude is an intentionally simple series of chord arpeggios, walking through some modulations in the vicinity of and returning back to c maj. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew, and provides commentaries for each.
Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed comments. Contrapuntal analysis following rules were in application during the eighteenth century. Welltempered clavier book i played by daniel barenboim. To be able to get to the total of 24 subjects you need to include two incomplete presentations of the subject.
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. Bach, the well tempered clavier, volume 1 reference analysis computed analysis 1 5 9 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 reference analysis iii. Fugue no 22 in bflat minor, bwv 867 five voices the well. Welltempered clavier selections iiii music analysis.
Well tempered clavier book i, prelude c major we start our analysis with the, so to say, entry door into the 48, the well tempered clavier book i, prelude c maj. Bachs welltempered clavier 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. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. The first fugue in the well tempered clavier is a beautiful introduction to the world of bachs fugues. The prelude and fugue in csharp minor, bwv 849, is a pair of keyboard compositions by johann sebastian bach. 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. 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 welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. 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. The welltempered clavier comprehensively reassessed the approach to not only the playing the keyboard, but to composition in general. The well tempered clavier the art of piano performance.
Bachs welltempered clavier has been analyzed from almost every angle imaginable, yet it has not often been studied from the position of discovering what forces influenced bach while he was writing it. 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. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. Constantly in rotation on the music stands of all aspiring pianists at one point or another, this legendary collection of keyboard nuggets is perfectly formed not only within each movement, but overall. This guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew, and provides. Bachswell 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. It is the only episode of the season to not be written by either jonathan nolan or lisa joy, but rather by individuals who had worked with the two of them in their previous endeavors dietz with nolan on person of interest and lingenfelter with joy on pushing daisies. 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. Apr 07, 2020 watch our world premiere video stream below as pianist jeremy denk explores bachs life and his most iconic work, kicking off his artistinresidence series at the greene space at wqxr. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. This comparison is made on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the fugal expositions both collections of fugues mentioned. Then, there is an analysis of selected preludes that will exemplify the variety of styles found in this work of bach.
Welltempered clavier, part i johann sebastian bach. The chapter considers the possible the relevance of such modes of hearing to eighteenthcentury listeners and employs certain ideas from. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an essential role in our collaborative presentation. In the preludes, he gave free rein to his imagination. 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. Js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost. This is followed by a catalogue of very specific questions regarding a prelude and questions regarding a fugue, which the reader is urged to answer for him. This exam section asks about a bach fugue from the well. 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, 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. Tonight, join denk for analysis and interpretation as he takes a deep dive into four of the most fascinating moments from book 1 of bachs welltempered clavier. Bach fugues are a particularly consistent model of contrapuntal music.
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. Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed. Gould, by contrast, plays the fugue in up tempo, which. The welltempered claviers greatest hits the greene space. Guldas recording is very slow and controlled, similar tureck and fellner. Through her generosity, they are provided here at earsense where they play an. The latest westworld episode the welltempered clavier contained small but important nods to earlier episodes and confirmed two major theories. Bachs well tempered clavier 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. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of. Welltempered clavier here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier by johann sebastian bach.
Many consider the two books of the welltempered clavier bachs finest keyboard collection. The voices appear in the exposition in the unusual order of subject answer answer subject. The first fugue in the welltempered clavier is a beautiful introduction to the world of bachs fugues. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. A serene bass and a hottempered upper voice argue in the prelude, ending in a fugue that is a classic example of baroque. In each of the two parts of the wohltemperirte clavier, he brought together the musical couple prelude and fugue 24 times. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew, and. This fugue in c major, the first fugue from the first book of bachs welltempered clavier, presents several interesting aspects.
Click on the link below each diagram to access an interactive version of these analysis, with scores. Prelude and fugue in csharp minor, bwv 849 wikipedia. So bachs opening number in the welltempered clavier could well be a salute to his illustrious predecessors. By todays stratospheric technical standards fischer is not infallible in execution, and the inability to indulge in microscopic editing means that these onetake recordings of the preludes and fugues are not mistakefree, far from it. Bachs welltempered 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. Deceptive cadence the pianist has such an intimate relationship with the welltempered clavier, hearing him play its kaleidoscopic preludes and. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j.
Production the well tempered clavier was written by dan dietz and katherine lingenfelter, and was directed by michelle maclaren. Alvira and sandin, analysis of bachs g minor fugue bwv 861. Bachs welltempered clavier in depth analysis and interpretation volume iv on. Chapter 4 is an analysis of bachs fugue in e major from book ii of the welltempered clavier. The fugues of bachs welltempered clavier are composed of two to five voices, appearing. A comparative analysis of the expositions in the fugues of j. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. Bibliographic informationen, table of contents how to use this book. Jan 16, 20 andras schiffs welltempered guide to bach. This is in contrast to modern songs which have a melody, usually sung or played by one voice, chords, and rhythm. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation. Bachswelltempered clavieror 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. The welltemperedclavier, book ii wtc 2 french title. In a conventional baroque fugue, the subject is first stated by itself.
Bwv 854 performed by christian rieger at home in cologne, germany. Pac s s sinc s s sinc s sinc s s s sinc s s s s s s s s s s. His complete recording of both books of bachs welltempered clavier took three years to make 193336. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. He completed the first volume in cothen in 1722 and the second around 16 years later in leipzig. A proper analysis of js bachs well tempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. Unlike the well tempered clavier, english suites, french suites and other sets, bach himself did not arrange them into a collection. In depth analysis and interpretation volume iiv siglind bruhn mainer international, ltd. A fugue is a style of musical composition where a theme melody is introduced, and then repeated in one or more other voices. The well tempered clavier comprehensively reassessed the approach to not only the playing the keyboard, but to composition in general. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. The problem with, which this thesis is concerned is that of analyzing and comparing the fugal writing and contrapuntal style of j. It is the fourth prelude and fugue in the first book of the well tempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer.
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. Bach, fugue in e major, welltempered clavier, book ii. Indepth analysis and interpretation, volume i bruhn, siglind on. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. 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 comparative analysis of the expositions in the fugues of. Motivations for jenckas approach involve an analysis of the possible logic behind the figures themselves and his belief that a wide fifth b. But as you will see in our analysis, there are only 22 complete subjects. 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. Indepth analysis and interpretation, siglind bruhn has crafted 48 jewels of her own, 48 elegant and eloquent visualizations of bachs precious fugues. His complete recording of both books of bachs well tempered clavier took three years to make 193336. Well tempered clavier here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by johann sebastian bach.
610 833 1360 1126 329 389 476 1081 507 653 288 516 150 983 263 376 1337 1067 622 1137 24 1122 1484 1158 638 312 421 16 1083 452 812 71 1289