Andras schiff plays book two of the welltempered clavier at the music center at strathmore on oct. However, each of bachs preludes leads to a fugue in the same key, and bachs pieces are arranged, in each of the works two volumes, in ascending chromatic order with major preceding parallel minor, while chopins are arranged in a circle of fifths with major preceding relative minor. I would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered clavier. Guide to bachs welltempered claviera wellmeaning effort, though badly misconceived, in my vieware the author eric lewin altschulers picks for the top ten fugues, the top ten subjects, the superstar four, and so on. 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. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the well tempered clavier book 1. 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.
Here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier by johann sebastian bach. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Tureck is a truly great interpreter, but the early 50s sound detracts. The current datatset includes six recordings of the first book of the welltempered clavier, dating from between 1973 gustav leonhardt and 2006 peter watchorn, none of which seems to be in one single temperament throughout. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. I would like to recommend ralph kirkpatricks clavichord recording of the welltempered clavier. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 the well tempered clavier, book ii rosalyn tureck, piano the concert hall, broadcasting house, london. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. Schirmers library of musical classics series librarything.
The title page is missing from the manuscript, but its similarity to the first book of the well tempered clavier led editors to entitle it book ii. For book 2, to view originals is a more complex exercise, given the lack of the one authoritative original from js bachs hand and the fragmentation of historical copies see the work of yo tomita for more info on this. Download bach well tempered clavier public domain sheet music from. His works such as the brandenburg concertos are known for their technical depth and artistic beauty.
Bach worked on the second book over a long period of time, even reworking pieces he had written for other purposes, as he had in the first book. Bach did not specify the instrument to be used for these pieces, and the clavichord has a softer sound than the clangy harpsichord. Both volumes appear to be out of print, but i found volume one at cd universe. My main intention for depositing this information in the internet is to make available to my students and colleagues the most uptodate information when available. 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. Bbc radio 3 through the night, the welltempered clavier. Some 20 years later bach compiled a second book of the same kind, which became known as the well tempered clavier, part two in. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist. The well tempered clavier book 1 scrolling youtube. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j.
Feb 01, 2007 i would like to recommend ralph kirkpatricks clavichord recording of the well tempered clavier. Its doubtful that bachs well tempered tuning was an exact match to the equal tempered tuning that eventually became the accepted standard. Second, 22 years separate the wtcs two books, and there are significant differences between them. This edition of johann sebastian bachs famous keyboard work the welltempered clavier was edited by ferruccio busoni, who also added historical information and a large number of performance notes that will relate to piano performance. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Wilhelm friedemann bach 17101784 find a grave memorial. Each set consists of twenty four preludes and fugues in all of the major and minor keys in ascending order. The oldest son of johann sebastian bach, he was born in weimar, germany. The first set was put together by bach in the early1720s, the second set in 1744. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and. 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.
He received an excellent musical education from his father, who wrote book i of the well tempered clavier 1723 primarily for his use. The creamcolored paper is very easy on the eyes as well. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. Download a free and public domain recording and musical.
Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. Well, among the four most pithy subjects csharp minor and aflat major in book 1, csharp major and e major in. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of. I usually love any harpsichord recording by christophe rousset but im afraid that the quality of the sound on both book one and book two is poor. Complete score of the welltempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open welltempered clavier project. The welltempered clavier is two sets of preludes and fugues for keyboard. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 find a grave memorial. He received an excellent musical education from his father, who wrote book i of the welltempered clavier 1723 primarily for his use.
Amazon music unlimited subscribers can play 50 million songs, thousands of. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. Eminent bachspecialist sir andras schiff here performs book i. Some of the preludes and fugues date from the 1720s. 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. This chapter is an extract from my critical commentary, vol. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. Bach did not specify the instrument to be used for these pieces, and the clavichord has a. For book 1, though that was also not published till fifty years after bachs death, we have bachs own fair manuscript copy, recopied many times by pupils and.
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. 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. After some practice, after having learned a few of these preludes and fougues, the fingering should become more natural and those fingering suggestions on the editions really become unneccessary. The two books of fortyeight preludes and fugues known as the welltempered clavier were not written for public performance but conceived of as manuals, teaching texts for compositional and keyboard technique. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Bach 50 solos for classical guitar hal leonard online. 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. The two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier. Most of bachs fugues are character pieces of the highest type.
The title page is missing from the manuscript, but its similarity to the first book of the welltempered clavier led editors to entitle it book ii. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that. Mar 14, 2012 a well tempered clavier keyboard instrument was one that was so tuned it was possible to play in all keys and to modulate freely. We know it was intended in some way to acknowledge its predecessor simply because the title page of most copies includes the words zweiter teil part two, though english usage is generally books 1 and 2, but it. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. Some 20 years later bach compiled a second book of the same kind, which became known as the welltempered clavier, part two in german. 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 welltempered clavier part i bwv 846869 details g. Composed about 20 years apart, the two sets of 24 preludes and fugues that constitute the two books of johann sebastian bachs welltempered clavier didnt start off as one huge collection of 48 works in fact, the set of 24 preludes and fugues composed in 1742 were not issued as a sequel to the original wtc of 1722. Download a free and public domain recording and musical score. The welltempered clavier part ii, bwv 870893 english.
Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete. 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. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. Andras schiff and the bach project the washington post. A well tempered clavier keyboard instrument was one that was so tuned it was possible to play in all keys and to modulate freely. Troeger has since made clavichord recordings of book 2 of the welltempered clavier, the art of fugue, the english and french suites. The welltempered 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. It was in fact written in 174550, and in imitation of bachs example. 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. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in. Bach the well tempered claiver book 2 feinberg youtube.
They were published in two separate books, book i, which was composed in 1722, and book ii, composed in 1744. Unless youre angela hewitt or glenn gould i would recommend mastering only a select few preludes and fugues rather than being okay. Book 2 of the welltempered clavier was collected from 1738 and probably completed by 1742, about twenty years after book 1. The maximal degree of homogeneity is observed in the latest recording watchorn 2006, in which two thirds of the. The virtuoso pianist in sixty exercises for the piano. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the welltempered clavier book 1. Some 40 minutes longer in duration than book i, the added bulk of book ii is to be found. 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. Standing out from the latter are book i of the welltempered clavier 1722. Sep 07, 2017 the two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. Distinguished pianist and bach specialist sir andras schiff gives a performance of the complete second volume of js bachs the welltempered clavier at the.
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