Aug 14, 2010 they both run about the same difficulty. Chromatic fantasia and fugue in d minor, bwv 903 by johann sebastian bach performer. Bach the well tempered clavier book 1 feinberg youtube. 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. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier.
Book 11722, book 2 1724 significance of title well tempered. Analysis js bach s music combines two elements, namely a high degree of formalism and complexity with utmost beauty. Yet nothing drags, because the pianists superb contrapuntal acumen, imaginative ornamentation and quietly strong sense of inner rhythm keep the music alive and moving forward. 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 successfully upwards in key, starting with c major. 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. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. I own book 1, and was considering buying book 2 because some of the pieces were too dificult.
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. 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. 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. Among classical music connoisseurs, the welltempered clavier book 1 wtc, or the 48 for short is widely regarded as one of the most influential works by j. Book 1 contains the more popular preludes and fugues. Completed by 1742, book 2 was intended as a complement to book 1, not as a replacement. Prelude and fugue in c minor and well tempered clavier. Albert wong the welltempered clavier, book 2 preludes and fugues nos. Get the guaranteed best price on classical vinyl like the well tempered clavier at musicians friend. Unless youre angela hewitt or glenn gould i would recommend mastering only a select few preludes and fugues rather than being okay. The well tempered clavier book 2 by friedrich gulda 19951017 music skip to main content. Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier overall.
In the presence of this consistently contrapuntal music, we may find ourselves listening contrapuntally, the musics. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. S welltempered clavier the, book 2 by jeno jando on amazon music. Please note the id wristband is for content id dispute purposes. The welltempered clavier book 2 by friedrich gulda. Bachs welltempered clavier, celine frisch now presents the second volume of this musical. Bach, glenn gould the welltempered clavier, book 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.
The well tempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. Bach the well tempered clavier, book ii, nos 16 youtube. Two years after releasing her cd dedicated to book i of j. While bachs welltempered clavier, in its utter completeness, is the marker of our modern conception, the term fugue had been in practice for over 400 years previous, and often used for music of widely divergent purpose. Glenn gould 1932 1982 bach the welltempered clavier.
It is generally far more difficult than book 1 however, with greater. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. 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. Angela hewitt performs the art of fugue at the royal festival hall, london se1, on 2 october and 7 may.
Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that. 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 welltempered clavier, book 2 johann sebastian bach. One of the 48 pieces is dedicated to someone or something you love or honor. The welltempered clavier, book 2 preludes and fugues nos. Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. This edition of johann sebastian bach s famous keyboard work the well tempered 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 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. 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.
They were published in two separate books, book i, which was composed in 1722, and book ii, composed in 1744. Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete. S welltempered clavier the, book 2 by jeno jando on. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bach s mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. Welltempered clavier, book 1 by kimiko ishizaka in 2012, the japanesegerman classical musician kimiko ishizaka made available to the world an open version of j. The welltempered 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. Download bach well tempered clavier public domain sheet music from. Licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Each set consists of twenty four preludes and fugues in all of the major and minor keys in ascending order. The release while it has virtues, which i will get to below is being oversold. 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. Aug 14, 2011 licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. 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.
The welltempered clavier is generally regarded as one of the most influential works in the history of western classical music. 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. 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. A proper analysis of js bachs welltempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously.
A fivedisc welltempered clavier usually signifies measured tempi and all repeats observed, and thats mostly true of roger woodwards recording. Friedrich gulda the welltempered clavier, book 1 2 cd. There are two books because bach amazingly did this twice, writing two preludes and fugues for each key, thus the 48. Explaining the importance of the welltempered clavier, alexandre prokoudine writes over at libre graphics world. The welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv 846869, clavicembalo remastered, an album by helmut walcha on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and. Book 11722, book 21724 significance of title well tempered. The welltempered clavier book 2 by friedrich gulda 19951017 music. Once a deeper understanding of each individual piece has been achieved, the relationship of each prelude to its fugue will be more clear, and even though book 1 is a.
The well tempered clavier, book ii 1740 complete recording by breemer, c. The welltempered clavier, book ii 1740 complete recording by breemer, c. Simply put, the welltempered clavier is a collection of preludes and fugues written in every key. Id buy book 2, learn these, and then go back to book 1. Welltempered clavier, part i johann sebastian bach. The welltempered clavier is two sets of preludes and fugues for keyboard. The welltempered clavier recorded in 1983, kenneth gilberts welltempered clavier proudly stands the test of time as a reference harpsichord version. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube.
Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier. Welltempered clavier, book 2, bwv 870893 by johann sebastian bach performer. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bach s various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. The vagueness of these descriptions is a reflection of the fugues place in history. 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.
Bachs goldberg variations performed on a bosendorfer 290 imperial piano in berlin. Yet nothing drags, because the pianists superb contrapuntal acumen, imaginative ornamentation and quietly strong sense of. Musica mundana the welltempered clavier tv episode. The well tempered clavier is two sets of preludes and fugues for keyboard. There are twelve notes in the chromatic scale, each one having a major and minor mode, thus 24 keys. Composition history the first book was compiled in the year 1722 during bachs appointment in kothen. 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.
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