Nov 30, 2015 the preludes are from the open well tempered clavier project, and were made using musescore software. I think the well tempered clavier by johann sebastian bach is the best music ever written by anyone ever. One of the 48 pieces is dedicated to someone or something you love or honor. In a way, this is the best possible version of the wtc to someone who is looking for a balanced, deep and totally honest version. Customers and visitors can download classical music in high quality flac or mp3 and find out more about classical music. My favourite recordings of bachs well tempered clavier are this one, sviatoslav richters and despite its mono sound edwin fischers. 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. Some 20 years later bach compiled a second book of the same kind, which became known as the welltempered clavier, part two in german.
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. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. Joanna mcgregor is one of britains leading pianists. Every note of the book 1 d major preludes rapid righthand passagework falls into a seamless, centred long line, while book 1s b minor prelude benefits from woodwards alla breve conception that refreshingly contrasts with slower, more solemn renditions. Some refer to rosalyn tureck as the high priestess of bach keyboard performance. 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. Continue from part 1 donald satz wrote february 16, 2001. Its just perfect, ive been listening to and playing some of this music for about 15 years now and i never get tired of it, there is so much variety and so many brilliant musical ideas here that you never really understand all of it and so it is constantly surprising you, on the surface. Bach well tempered clavier roger woodward 199225 dc. Sviatoslav richter piano melodiya rca red seal olympia le chant du monde russian revelation. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. Navona records presents the well tempered clavier, bk 1 performed by awardwinning pianist kimiko ishizaka, regarded as a gifted and obviously devoted bachian by the new york times.
Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Prelude i in c major, bwv 846 well tempered clavier first. I was very impressed with the set and have been looking forward to his recording of book ii which has just been issued.
Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete. Best harpsichord recording of bachs welltempered clavier book 1 welcome to talk classical a community covering every aspect of classical music. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to. Bach prelude and fugue no 15 well tempered clavier, book 2 with. The welltempered clavier book i joanna mcgregor piano. Complete score of the welltempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open welltempered clavier project. The welltempered clavier complete by glenn gould 1. The first book of the welltempered clavier was composed in the early 1720s, with bachs autograph dated 1722. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Which published edition of this work would you all recommend for me so that i can get the fingering right. Its just perfect, ive been listening to and playing some of this music for about 15 years now and i never get tired of it, there is so much variety and so many brilliant musical ideas here that you never really understand all of it and so it is constantly surprising you, on the.
Well tempered clavier book 1 schirmers library of musical classics vo. The welltempered clavier book ii angela hewitt piano. Bachs klavierbuchlein 1720 there is an almost complete collection of prelude and fughetta versions predating the 1722 autograph, known from a later copy by an. It is tempting to imagine that bach chose these details as clever, creative constraints.
I would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered clavier. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. If anyone deserves legendary status as a bach keyboard performer, its probably wanda landowska. By building a major and minor diatonic 7 tones scale from each of the 12 semitones, we arrive at 24 keys, the complete circle of fifths, and the number of preludefugue pairs in each book of the welltempered clavier. Best harpsichord recording of bachs welltempered clavier. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 written in 1722, publicated in 1801. This new recording, and score, were made possible by kimiko ishizaka. The well tempered clavier book 1 scrolling youtube. The well tempered clavier book ii, bwv 870893 arthur loesser, piano the master tapes for this recording were made in mr. With its magnificent and magisterial performances by sviatoslav richter, one would have imagined that this 1970 recording of the first book of bach s well tempered clavier would be on the shelf of everyone who reveres richter and worships bach.
Prelude in d major continuous semiquavers from the right hand and a staccato bass line makes this prelude very joyous and playful. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier. 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. The preludes are from the open welltempered clavier project, and were made using musescore software. Kimiko ishizaka bach welltempered clavier, book 1 01 prelude no. Js bach, the welltempered clavier book 1, detailed comments. Prelude i in c major, bwv 846 well tempered clavier. Welltempered clavier book 1 by johann sebastian bach, bob van asperen from amazons classical music store. The solemn and expressive, recitative character of the melody is reminiscent of bachs passion music. Bach, the welltempered clavier, book i, fugue no 15 in g. The harpsichord is a beautiful flemishfrench recent research shows it is rather more french than flemish harpsichord gilberts own that has a marvelous sound.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 the welltempered clavier, book i, bwv 846869 cd 1 bwv 846857 59. Ishizaka studied the notes and phrases of bachs solo keyboard works in a systematic manner in order to discover an interpretation which adheres to the. Bachs welltempered clavier book 1 interpreted by s d.
Prelude and fugue in c minor and well tempered clavier. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. The well tempered clavier book 1 scrolling youtube a. 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. In some of the areas, the fingering is driving me crazy. With its magnificent and magisterial performances by sviatoslav richter, one would have imagined that this 1970 recording of the first book of bachs welltempered clavier would be on the shelf of everyone who reveres richter and worships bach. 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.
But, in fact, theyre not and the simple reason for it is that richters performances sound like they were taped in a drafty castle. Schiffs 2012 recording is also good, but i prefer his earlier recording. Welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv846869 various arrangements play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. 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. Schiffs early 1980s recording is good, but does not appeal to me as much as the above three.
The open welltempered clavier an essential musical masterpiece, full of joy, pain, and passion, j. Johann sebastian bach 1685 1750 the well tempered clavier, book 1 00. Weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. Book 11722, book 21724 significance of title well tempered. Prelude c minor the c min prelude of book 1 finds a parallel in wilhelm friedemann bachs clavierbuchlein keyboard booklet and, as ledbetter points out, it is quite clearly an exercise to make all fingers of both hands busy which, today, may seem nothing special, but at jsbs time it was a rather modern concept. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bachs.
The sunday times has called her one of the outstanding bach pianist of. S welltempered clavier the, book 1 landowska 19491951 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, resurrecting the instrument and taking a scholarly approach to the performance of music from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Johann sebastian bach welltempered clavier, book 1. The fugues are from kyle rothers lillypond engraving. 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. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. The welltempered clavier book ii, bwv 870893 arthur loesser, piano the master tapes for this recording were made in mr. 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. Bachs welltempered clavier is now available on cd, and for download.