It is generally far more difficult than book 1 however, with greater technical and structural difficulty for the performer. Bach composed a paired prelude and fugue in each of the 24 keys to demonstrate the viability of the new equal. 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 loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that. It is also possible, given the date, that bach presented the book as a showpiece. Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier, part i. His recordings are never less than respectable, and often a good deal more than that. Welltempered clavier book i bwv 846869 discography part 8. Jeno jando has recorded an enormous swath of the classical piano repertoire for the budget label naxos. If you are a beginner or an advanced player, the question which score to use is always an important topic. A proper analysis of js bachs welltempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously.
Download a free and public domain recording and musical score. 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. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. The well tempered clavier, book one, prelude and fugue no. 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. The open welltempered clavier an essential musical masterpiece, full of joy, pain, and passion, j. Before the advent of modern tonality in the late 17th century, numerous composers produced collections of pieces in all seven modes. Certain online resources for the distribution of lossless music, such as are not mentioned hereabouts, may be relevant in this context. Books i and ii, complete dover music for piano bach.
It was the ultimate workbook, open to constant change and refining by bach himself. Here are some of my observations regarding the 48 preludes and fugues found in book i and book ii of johann sebastian bachs the welltempered clavier, in no particular order. Poloarts china cl4b86080 whether this last is a legit licensed issue, or a pirate, i have no idea. Jones, richard, jones, richard, bach, johann sebastian. Book 1 contains the more popular preludes and fugues. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book 2. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist.
Welltempered clavier book i bwv 846869 discography. The well tempered clavier, book ii 1740 complete recording by breemer, c. 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 can be edifying to study the prelude and fugue in a key in book i and the prelude and fugue in the same key in book ii. The welltempered clavier, book 2 johann sebastian bach. Shop and buy well tempered clavier book 2 sheet music. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the well tempered clavier book 1. Jandos recordings of bachs welltempered clavier rank among his very bestbrilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play. Bachs welltempered clavier is now available on cd, and for download. As a young pianist, andras schiff earned wide esteem for his 1980s recordings of the major keyboard works of 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 the modern german spelling for the collection is. Is book 2 any easier, or should i just keep working on what i have. 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. Complete score of the welltempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open welltempered clavier project.
I own book 1, and was considering buying book 2 because some of the pieces were too dificult. Each book contains 24 relatively free, improvisatory preludes, each of which precedes a fugue. Aug 14, 2010 they both run about the same difficulty. Although the welltempered clavier was the first collection of fully worked keyboard pieces in all 24 keys, similar ideas had occurred earlier. The welltempered clavier recorded in 1983, kenneth gilberts welltempered clavier proudly stands the test of time as a reference harpsichord version. Talking about the welltempered clavier, a very good source to get to the original scores is the website of the state library berlin together with bacharchiv leipzig. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. These preludefugue pairs cycle through all 24 possible major and minor tona. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. All pepper locations are currently closed to the public.
This is a useful reprint of the original 1924 associated board edition. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. 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. S welltempered clavier the, book 1 jando by johann sebastian bach.
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. Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier overall. Note that every pepper location is abiding by all federal, state, and local regulations regarding covid19, as well as cdc guidelines. Bach preludes and fugues 112 well tempered clavier, book 2. Book ii of her recording of bachs welltempered clavier was made between 1951 and 1954 at her home in lakeville. Johann pachelbels magnificat fugues composed 16951706, georg muffats apparatus musicoorganisticus of 1690 and. 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. Well tempered clavier book 1 a computer mediated decomposition by damian catera. Chromatic fantasia and fugue in d minor, bwv 903 by johann sebastian bach performer. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on. Eminent bachspecialist sir andras schiff here performs book i.
Id buy book 2, learn these, and then go back to book 1. The two sets of 24 preludes and fugues book 1 dating from 1722 and book 2 from 1742 had pedagogical objectives. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. 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. Completed by 1742, book 2 was intended as a complement to book 1, not as a replacement. What is the significance of the welltempered clavier. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book 2 music. Well tempered clavier flashcards and study sets quizlet. Jandos recordings of bachs well tempered clavier rank among his very bestbrilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play.
Unless youre angela hewitt or glenn gould i would recommend mastering only a select few preludes and fugues rather than being okay. Analysis js bachs music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. The well tempered clavier book 2 prelude e fugue in a, bwv 888. Welltempered clavier, book 2, bwv 870893 by johann sebastian bach performer. Piano, pianokeyboard sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. The welltempered clavier has long been considered the old testament of the keyboard literature with beethovens piano sonatas as the new testament. 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. 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. The first instance to look at, which is also the most authoritative one, is to study the composers original manuscripts. 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. Glenn gould 1932 1982 bach the welltempered clavier.
In jill crosslands own words, no other music is so perfect an integration of emotional. If youre a devotee of a particular pianist in this repertoiregould, schiff, richter, kempff, etc. 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. 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. 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. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. 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 well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier. 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. The welltemperedclavier, book ii wtc 2 french title. 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. S bach welltempered clavier for the piano book i pf.
Sep 07, 2017 the two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. See all 8 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The welltempered clavier is a collection of two books of keyboard music. 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. Andras schiff and the bach project the washington post. The two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight.
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