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. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. Johann sebastian bach the basis for the musical text was henle s revised edition of part i published in 1997 and yo tomitas revision of part ii spring 2007. Shop and save on the welltempered clavier bwv 870893 part ii by bach. In a conventional baroque fugue, the subject is first stated by itself. 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.
Whatever advanced musical concepts one might have, if those are played by a pianist keyboarder who has a rather limited command of the black and white keys, unfortunately the result will be tainted. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. It is far longer with all the repeats it only just fits on two cds, more complex in writing, and not least of greater technical and structural difficulty for the performer. Skip to main content this banner text can have markup. Eminent bachspecialist sir andras schiff here performs book i. I would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered clavier. The welltempered clavier part ii, bwv 870893 english. The welltempered clavier part ii edition with fingeringcompositeur. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist. The prelude in eb major from book 1 is sarabandelike. His works such as the brandenburg concertos are known for their technical depth and artistic beauty. 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 eminent bach scholar tomita discusses the complicated source situation of part ii in an extensive preface.
Henle verlag welltempered clavier bwv 870893 part ii by bach. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. Hermann keller writes in his little book about the welltempered clavier. The welltempered clavier revised edition part i, bwv 846869. The welltempered clavier part i bwv 846869 prelude and fugue bwv 846 prelude and fugue bwv 847 prelude and fugue bwv 848. In some of the areas, the fingering is driving me crazy. One of the 48 pieces is dedicated to someone or something you love or honor. Part 1 of johann sebastian bachs well tempered clavier has survived in a complete.
For i am aware of how useful a guide like this can be, both from my own experience as well as that of many. As always it is a great clear easy to read edition as you would expect from henle. Complete score of the welltempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open welltempered clavier project. Prelude in c major bwv 846 robert hill, harpsichord harpsichord after mietke by keith hill recorded in st. The well tempered clavier book 2, bwv 870893 without fingering english, french and german edition by johann sebastian bach jan 1, 2009 3.
Sep 07, 2017 the two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. Henle verlag worldfamous pianist andras schiff discusses aspects of performance practice in a detailed preface. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the well tempered clavier book 1. Shop and buy the welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. 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.
Welltempered clavier for piano with fingerings, part 1 bwv. 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. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. The basis for the musical text was henle s revised edition of part i published in 1997 and yo tomitas revision of part ii spring 2007. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846 893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Both parts of the welltempered clavier are also available as henle urtext editions without fingerings and as study editions. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord.
Bach the welltempered clavier book i internet archive. 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. Had the term well tempered clavier changed by 1742. Welltempered clavier bwv 846869 part i no fingering publisher. The welltempered clavier part i bwv 846869 details g. Which published edition of this work would you all recommend for me so that i can get the fingering right.
One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. Piano, pianokeyboard sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete. 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.
Open welltempered clavier bah to bach by robert douglass. Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. 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 was the title given to the book of twentyfour preludes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Yet i gladly take up this great challenge, presented to me by g. 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. The welltempered clavier revised edition softcover part i, bwv. With its magnificent and magisterial performances by sviatoslav richter, one would have imagined that this 1970 recording of the first book of bachs well tempered clavier would be on the shelf of everyone who reveres richter and worships bach. 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. I have other editions of wtc, but henle verlag is the best. Bachs the well tempered clavier volume 1 published by g. Johann sebastian bach the well tempered clavier, book 1. The well tempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results.
Henle verlag the welltempered clavier revised edition. If you want to play js bachs well tempered clavier properly, this can only be done if you have achieved a certain level of technical mastership. Incidentally, this subject is an example of double dotting or. Nov 16, 2004 weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier.
Piano solo sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. In fact, book 2 is generally far more difficult than book 1 in every way. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. The welltempered clavier revised edition part i, bwv 846. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. 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 bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an. Shop and buy well tempered clavier book 1 sheet music. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. 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. Both parts of the welltempered clavier are also available as henle urtext.