Bach Well Tempered Clavier Book 1

A series of detailed analytical notes of the 24 Prelude and Fugues of J.S Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier Book 1. Based on “The forty-eight preludes and fugues of John Sebastian Bach analysed for the use of students.” by Frederick Iliffe.

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.10 in E minor, BWV 855 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-21: Period I. Establishes Tonic key, E minor, and visits Relative Major in Bars 4-9. Touches E minor and C major (in a sequence in Bars 9-10),…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.11 in F major, BWV 856 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-8: Period I. Cadence in the Relative minor. Bars 9-15: Period II. Modulatory. Bars 15-18: Period III. REMARKS: This Prelude is founded upon the characteristic figure as seen in Bar 1…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.12 in F minor, BWV 857 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-12: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1,2). Touches the Sub-dominant minor (B flat) (Bar 5), and the Relative Major (Bar 7). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.14 in F♯ minor, BWV 859 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-14: Period I. Ending in the Dominant Minor, C sharp. Bars 14-24: Period II. Passing though B minor, the to C sharp major – its own Dominant, it works home…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.13 in F♯ major, BWV 858 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-12: Period I. Starting in the Tonic, it ends with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Relative Minor, D, touching the Dominant (C sharp) along the…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.15 in G major, BWV 860 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: The Prelude is founded of the figures seen above. Bars 1-11: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-3), touches D major (Bar 5), A minor (Bar 6) and E minor…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.16 in G minor, BWV 861 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-7: Period I. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the Relative Major. Bars 7-11: Period II. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the Sub-dominant. Bars 11-19: Period III. Dominant Pedal (Bars 14-15)….
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.17 in A♭ major, BWV 862 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.17 in Ab Major BWV 862 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-18: Period I. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant E flat. Bars 18-44: Period II. Beginning on the Dominant, and ending with a Perfect Cadence…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.18 in G♯ minor, BWV 863 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is founded upon the figure seen in Bar 1 above. Bars 1-13: Period I. G sharp minor, it moves to the Relative major (Bar 4), touching F…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.19 in A major, BWV 864 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-14: Period I. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Relative minor, F sharp. Bars 14-24: Period II. Modulatory in the early part, touching B major and…
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