The preludes for the most part exhibit simple binary or ternary forms. The four voices of the fugue enter in the order alto, soprano, tenor, and bass. For more information, and discussion on this method and its results, please see the fugues main page and the bibliographical references. It is also said that the subject appears exactly 24 times in this fugue representing the 24 fugues in the first book of the welltempered clavier. The 14 notes long subject is said to be related to bach s name. The device of augmentation of the subject is used on two occasions, while that of inversion of the subject and answer is used four times. Analysis of bachs fugue bwv 871 in c minor wtc, book ii. Sinfonia no 11 in g minor, bwv 797 henle level 34 sinfonia no 1 in c major, bwv 787 henle level 4 these are the easiest two. The sinfonias, like the inventions, have a narrow range of difficulty. Fugue analysis music theory for the 21stcentury classroom.
Analysis of bach s fugue bwv 871 in c minor wtc book 2 analysis of bach s fugue no 1 in c minor wtc book 1, bwv 847 analysis of the c major invention bwv 772 by bach. Prelude and fugue in c minor, bwv 847, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Prelude and fugue in c minor, bwv 847 bach, johann sebastian. Prelude and fugue in d minor, bwv 875 bach, johann sebastian movementssections movtssecs. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. There is, however, no evidence whatever to suggest that bach might have known crofts hymn. Theyre marked as a grade 9 rcm, and henle level 45. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionnoncommercialnoderivatives 4. Here is the first exposition of fugue 2 in c minor in book i of the j. Bwv 576 fugue in g major spurious bwv 577 fugue in g major.
The position of each occurrence is given by the number of. It is the second prelude and fugue in the first book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. It is a pedagogical work much in the spirit of the welltempered clavier, with which it shares. Right no, i am having trouble with figuring out what the harmonic analysis should be for the 3rd measure of this piece. Prelude and fugue in c minor by aaron pang on prezi. Between these two poles we have all the other colors first the yellows, oranges and ochre between c minor and d minor, all the shades of blue eflat major to e minor, the greens f major to g minor, pinks and reds aflat major to a minor, browns. Performance recording can be found on youtube under jnfmusic. The well tempered clavier was a collection of preludes and fugues in all the keys possible on a keyboard. Model answers for the works in book i bwv 846869 i1 prelude and fugue in c major. Fugue in c minor, bwv 575 bach, johann sebastian composition year. Johann sebastian bach s prelude and fugue in e flat major, owes its nickname st.
This study uses bach s fugue in c minor from book i of the welltempered clavier to develop the methodology. Prelude and fugue in c minor, bwv 847 bach, johann sebastian movementssections movtssecs. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn. Click on the link below each diagram to access an interactive version of these analysis, with scores. A bonus is the inclusion of donald francis toveys classic analyses of each prelude and fugue, along with the editors helpful caveats. Its not only bach s most famous fugue, but also the most famous fugue by any composer, ever. Second, the theme features a dramatic and expressive leap of a minor 9th the big jump upwards between the 2nd and 3rd notes. Fugue in c minor, bwv 575 bach, johann sebastian imslp. Prelude in c minor, bwv 999, also termed the little prelude in c minor, is a piece written by johann sebastian bach sometime between 1717 and 1723. Anne to the close similarity between the theme of the fugue itself, and the eponymous hymn tune by william croft 16781727, to which the words of isaac watts great hymn o god our help in ages past is normally sung. The haunting fivevoice fugue in bflat minor has several characteristics which are notable. Polyphonic form musical analysis musical terminology italian words and.
Prelude and fugue in c minor bach had written this piece as part of the well tempered clavier. He had written a total of 48 pieces scattered throughout 2 books. Structure of fugue in c minor from book i of welltempered clavier. Compare the fugue of book i to the kyrie of the b minor mass. I want to create a variation on this song, but bach s harmonies are hard to figure out sometimes. The alteration in the answer, for the sake of tonality, is made from the first note to the second. The motives in the subject and in the codetta will be used throughout the fugue. This fugue has a tonal answer, and would be called a tonal fugue. Prelude and fugue in c major, bwv 870, is a keyboard composition written by johann sebastian bach. Bach s famous welltempered clavier, recorded for the first time on organ. Bach s immortal 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys was written for clavier, and in bach s time that could mean any keyboard instrument. In bach s 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.
It is the first prelude and fugue in the second book of the welltempered clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues in every major and minor key. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces for organ, choir, as well as many other instruments. Prelude and fugue, for organ in e details allmusic. A countersubject is absent on one occasion, bars 2627. This is true even in bach s welltempered clavier, book 2, which is not usually given wide dynamic range. In the first exposition of a fugue, all of the voices state the.
A detailed guide that analyzes the structural, harmonic and thematic frame of the prelude and the fugue. Fugue c minor fugue book 1 c minor is an elegant and well balanced piece, which draws its fascination of its pure structure and the beauty of the interaction between the subject and the countersubjects. The answer follows in the bass, modulating into c 48 analysis of j. The alteration in the answer, for the sake of tonality is made from the first note to the second. Like most fugues, it is organized into three sections. The second group commences at bar 35, in c minor, modulating to e flat. Letters a to d will be used for their identification motive a is made from the 32 nd notes of the subject while motive b is made from the second part. Analysis of bach fugue bwv 846 in c major wtc book 1. The first group of middle entries bars 22 to 30 begins in g minor, with the subject in the alto, cs i in the treble and cs 2 in the bass. Bach s c minor fugue bwv 871 from the second book of the wtc offers an excellent example of three contrapuntal techniques. Bach s minor, with cs i in alto and cs 2 in treble. Four organ fugues of bach bwv 578, bwv 533, bwv 545, and.
First, it is one of the rare fugues with five voices there are two in book 1 of the welltempered clavier, and none in book 2. Johann sebastian bach toccata and fugue in d minor bbc. Fugue in g minor, bwv 578, little fugue in g minor, is an organ fugue composed by johann sebastian bach while employed at arnstadt 17031707. Analysis prelude unlike the prelude in c major that opens book. The rapid, strongly rhythmic, headbobbing prelude has much in common with bach s earlier twopart inventions. Though originally composed for luteharpsichord lautenwerck it has since been adapted for various instruments, including lute, piano and guitar. The welltempered clavier, book 2 angela hewitt on allmusic 1999. In each book, the first prelude and fugue set is in c major, followed by the next in c minor and so they ascend chromatically in major minor pairs. Motive d is the transformation by augmentation of the second group of notes from motive a. The prelude is steadily and earnestly flowing, producing a polyphonic aria of rare beauty, similar to what js bach has achieved in book 1 prelude f.