Although the welltempered clavier was the first collection of fully worked keyboard pieces in all 24 keys, similar ideas had occurred earlier. 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 welltempered clavier wikipedia republished wiki 2. Jun 29, 2016 dmitri shostakovich preludes and fugues, op. The wtc was written for the harpsichord, but is now mostly performed on its successor, the piano. I would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered clavier. These are not the learned fugues, for instance, that a mere homage to bachs welltempered clavier would suggest. The welltempered clavier is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by johann sebastian bach. 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. Here is a marvelous, musthave recording of bachs welltempered clavier book one, one that exceeds richters own legendary murky 197273 recording at klessheim castle, salzburg. David korevaar and tim smiths website on the 48 is based on shockwave and contains lots of information about the formal architecture and symbolism of the well tempered clavier.
Bach, nikolayeva, tatiana welltempered clavier book 1. Oct 02, 2006 these are not the learned fugues, for instance, that a mere homage to bachs well tempered clavier would suggest. The 24 preludes and fugues, op 87 by dmitri shostakovich, were composed in a surprisingly short timefrom october 1950 to march 1951. It consists of one prelude and fugue for each of the 24 major and minor keys. Piano solo sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. Nikolayeva tatiana, bach johann sebastian tatyana nikolayeva. Victor jvc vdc500910 2cd 1985 reissued victor jvc japan vicc60607 2cd 2007. Shop and buy the welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. With pairings of preludes and fugues for each major and minor key, bachs masterwork still serves as one of the most potent tools for students of the piano.
The welltempered clavier established the pairing of prelude and fugue as a signature. The spur for their composition was shostakovichs trip to leipzig for a festival marking the 200th anniversary of bachs death, and where he was an honorary member of the jury of the piano competition, in which i took part. Bach composed the first volume of the welltempered clavier in 1722. The fugue is definitely not trivialized in nikolayevas version which packs a mighty emotional wallop. An astonishing demonstration of bachs mature understanding of the compositional techniques and. More than two hundred years after bach composed his two books of twentyfour preludes and fugues, dmitry shostakovich became the first composer in musical history to follow bachs challenging experience by composing his own cycle of. Bwv 925, 850a, 936, 926, 935, 940, 851a, 753 2 preludes in d minor. 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. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846 to 893 bach duet in e minor, bwv 802 bach duet in f major, bwv 803 bach duet in g major, bwv 804 bach duet in a minor, bwv 805 bach goldberg variations, bwv 988 bach the musical offering, bwv 1079 bach the art of fugue, bwv 1080 bach complete beethoven piano sonata cycle. 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.
They were created by the composer as a cyclic work after bachs the welltempered clavier. How to choose which bach pieces to play jeffrey chappell. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. I would like to recommend ralph kirkpatricks clavichord recording of the welltempered clavier. Tatiana nikolayeva youtube mozart by gieseking complete piano sonatas, variations, pieces. Shop and buy the well tempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. In theory, the preludes and fugues of the wtc are just as eligible for transcribing as the goldberg variations and the art of the. In the german of 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. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier. But,ontheotherhand,inbachand othercomposers,onefrequentlymeetswith btherepetitionofaccenteda. Welltempered clavier book ii, bwv 870893 general discussions part 1.
Well tempered definition is properly constituted physically. 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 welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in. 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. Well tempered clavier book 1 from christiane jaccottet. Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. Welltempered definition of welltempered by merriamwebster.
This is in contrast to modern songs which have a melody, usually sung or played by one voice, chords, and rhythm. 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. Johann pachelbels magnificat fugues composed 16951706, georg muffats apparatus musicoorganisticus of 1690 and. The wikipedia article on the well tempered clavier, next to some general information, also holds an audio section with recordings of martha goldstein. 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. But that doesnt make her very solid welltempered clavier the top. Oct 30, 2011 one of the contestants was the 26yearold tatyana nikolayeva, whose playing of the welltempered clavier so impressed shostakovich that upon returning to moscow, he undertook to create a similar work himself. It was composed in 195051 and premiered by tatiana nikolayeva in 1952, and has come to be considered one of the great 20th century pieces for piano. Bach tatiana nikolayeva the welltempered clavier 2005. For this 2017 living archive release, the borromeo string quartet presents book i of johann sebastian bachs welltempered clavier in arrangements for string quartet by first violinist nicholas kitchen, though the project has yielded mixed results. References to and quotations from bachs cycle appear throughout the work.
David korevaar and tim smiths website on the 48 is based on shockwave and contains lots of information about the formal architecture and symbolism of the welltempered clavier. Tatiana nikolayeva the well tempered clavier book 1 recorded at imaichi public hall, japan on may 2226, 1984. Bwv 934, bwv 999, bwv bwv 847a 8 little preludes in d majorminor. Tatyana petrovna nikolayeva was a russian soviet pianist, composer and teacher. Both volumes appear to be out of print, but i found volume one at cd universe. 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. This non profit website is not affiliated with any foundation, record.
All of book i of bachs welltempered clavier is being rendered there in musescore animation. Bachs the welltempered clavier, an earlier set of 48 preludes and fugues, is widely held to be the direct inspiration for shostakovichs cycle, largely based on the works composition history see below. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew, and. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. Nov 23, 2015 tatyana nikolayeva, piano december 25, 1985 j. Welltempered definition is properly constituted physically. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. Bach did not specify the instrument to be used for these pieces, and the clavichord has a softer sound than the clangy harpsichord. One of the contestants was the 26yearold tatyana nikolayeva, whose playing of the welltempered clavier so impressed shostakovich that upon returning to moscow, he undertook to create a similar work himself. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846 to 893 bach duet in e minor, bwv 802 bach duet in f major, bwv 803 bach duet in g major, bwv 804 bach duet in a minor, bwv 805 bach goldberg variations, bwv 988 bach the musical offering, bwv 1079 bach the art of fugue, bwv 1080 bach complete beethoven piano sonata cycle. Bachs the well tempered clavier, an earlier set of 48 preludes and fugues, is widely held to be the direct inspiration for shostakovichs cycle, largely based on the works composition history see below.
The welltempered clavier, complete book 1 by johann. The well tempered clavier is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by johann sebastian bach. 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. A fugue is a style of musical composition where a theme melody is introduced, and then repeated in one or more other voices. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j.
Roberts, although very enjoyable, is a little humdrum in the fugue. Bwv867 bwv869 tatyana nikolayeva, piano may 1984 prelude and fugue no. Bach composed a paired prelude and fugue in each of the 24 keys to demonstrate the viability of the. 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. Feb 01, 2007 i would like to recommend ralph kirkpatricks clavichord recording of the well tempered clavier. Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete.
Unlike bachs two books of preludes and fugues, each of which proceeds up the steps of the chromatic scale alternating major and minor. It can be edifying to study the prelude and fugue in a key in book i. 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. Her prelude is almost as good very playful, devilish, and urgent. The wikipedia article on the welltempered clavier, next to some general information, also holds an audio section with recordings of martha goldstein. Tatiana nikolayeva the welltempered clavier book 1 recorded at imaichi public hall, japan on may 2226, 1984. The fortyeight preludes and fugues that make up the two books of the welltempered clavier were compiled at two different timesthe first book in 1722 while bach was in.
Before the advent of modern tonality in the late 17th century, numerous composers produced collections of pieces in all seven modes. Bwv850 bwv853 tatyana nikolayeva, piano may 1984 prelude and fugue no. Shostakovichs 1950 visit to leipzig to attend the bicentennial bach competition, where he heard and was impressed by tatiana nikolayeva playing bachs welltempered clavier, served as an impetus to write his own set of twentyfour preludes and fugues, loosely modelled on bachs. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. Prelude and fugue in f minor from welltempered clavier. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. In the german of bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either. Dmitri shostakovichs opus 87 is a cycle of 24 preludes and fugues for piano, modeled after bachs welltempered clavier. 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. Prelude and fugue in f minor, from welltempered clavier book i johann sebastian bach. 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. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. The first fugue in the welltempered clavier is a beautiful introduction to the world of bachs fugues. Rather, they seem to be couched in terms more closely aligned with the preludes that precede them.