It consists of one prelude and fugue for each of the 24 major and minor keys. The welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 by johann. Long, harmonically advanced, chromatically fascinating, it is less accessible to listen to and forbiddingly demanding to play. 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. Here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by johann sebastian bach. Book two of the well tempered clavier dates from 173842 some 20 years after book one and was assembled from both newly composed pieces and various existing preludes and fugues going back a number of years. 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. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. All these years later i have finally purchased book two, featuring mr. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. S 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. Robert douglass is raising funds for open welltempered clavier bah to bach on kickstarter. Well tempered clavier flashcards and study sets quizlet.
Is book 2 any easier, or should i just keep working on what i have. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier, book 1. Open welltempered clavier bah to bach by robert douglass. This 2cd set completes the superbargainprice reissue of bob van asperens recording of the complete welltempered clavier, book i having already been reissued on 3 49963 2. Compiled and prepared for the benefit and practice of young musicians desirous of learning, as well as for the entertainment of those already versed in this particular study, by johann sebastian bach, anno. Yo tomitas various very resourceful webspaces on the welltempered clavier are always worth the time see here on book 1, here on the sources of book 2, and a selection of midi files can be found here siglind bruhns website on analysis and interpretation of the welltempered clavier is very detailed and substantive see also above. Each piece is a prelude in various styles various dance forms, inventions, french style etc. 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.
Aug 14, 2010 which book of bach s well tempered clavier is easier overall. The well tempered clavier, book 2 glenn gould on allmusic 1993. While this welltempered clavier book ii recording presents some of glenn goulds formidable strengths an awesome technical command, the ability to project a wide variety of sounds textures and an always original interpretation it strikes me as one of the pianists weaker js bach recordings. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the welltempered clavier book 1. S welltempered clavier the, book 2 jando by johann sebastian bach. Yo tomitas various very resourceful webspaces on the well tempered clavier are always worth the time see here on book 1, here on the sources of book 2, and a selection of midi files can be found here siglind bruhns website on analysis and interpretation of the well tempered clavier is very detailed and substantive see also above. Bach composed a paired prelude and fugue in each of the 24 keys to demonstrate the viability of the new equal. I own book 1, and was considering buying book 2 because some of the pieces were too dificult. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. No wonder that bachs contemporaries sometimes found him hard to follow, so ferociously was he prepared to think about and develop the implications of genre. In some of the areas, the fingering is driving me crazy.
Discussion in music corner started by brstp, feb 1, 2007. 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. The well tempered clavier is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by johann sebastian bach. The well tempered clavier book 2 prelude e fugue in a, bwv 888. He may simply have wanted a change after fifteen or more years using book 1, and certainly he would have wanted to incorporate pieces in the latest styles. Well tempered clavier book 2 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. If my reaction to book i was tepid, it was more than thawed by my enthusiasm for book ii. 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. Welltempered clavier book 2 bach,johann sebastian artist format. S well tempered 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. Listen, for example to the sheer joyousness of the c. Jeno jando has recorded an enormous swath of the classical piano repertoire for the budget label naxos. We know that the welltempered clavier was extensively used as the most advanced text in bachs teaching.
The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. His recordings are never less than respectable, and often a good deal more than that. 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. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling youtube. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the well tempered clavier book 1. Feb 09, 2009 bach well tempered clavier d2 reference file. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742.
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. Bach the well tempered claiver book 2 feinberg youtube. Bach welltempered clavier book 2 virgin veritas 3857952. The preludes and fugues that make up bachs welltempered clavier operate on multiple levels at once theyre a compilation of. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. An astonishing demonstration of bachs mature understanding of the compositional techniques and. Book two of the welltempered clavier dates from 173842 some 20 years after book one and was assembled from both newly composed pieces and various existing preludes and fugues going back a number of years. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling gerubach. Which published edition of this work would you all recommend for me so that i can get the fingering right.
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. 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 well tempered clavier, book one, prelude and fugue no. Nov 16, 2004 weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. Major prelude and fugue with its sobachian ornamental twists and turns. Shop and buy well tempered clavier book 2 sheet music. The welltempered clavier is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by johann sebastian bach. The prelude in eb major from book 1 is sarabandelike. Apr 23, 2019 robert douglass is raising funds for open welltempered clavier bah to bach on kickstarter. 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. Bach welltempered clavier book 2 virgin veritas 3857952 bw. Here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier by johann sebastian bach. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic.
Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier overall. Piano solo sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. Bach, johann sebastian welltempered clavier book 2. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book 2. Download bach well tempered clavier public domain sheet music from the imslp music library. Jandos recordings of bach s well tempered clavier rank among his very bestbrilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play. Bachs welltempered clavier is one of the cornerstones of western classical music.