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.2 in C minor, BWV 847 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-14: Period I. C minor, at Bar 4 it moves by degrees away from the original key to its relative Major, E flat Major, by Bar…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.20 in A minor, BWV 865 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-13: Period I. Starting in the A minor, it moves to the Dominant minor (Bars 5-7) before arriving arriving at the Relative Major by descending sequence. Ending with…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.4 in C♯ minor, BWV 849 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-14: Period I. Ending in the Dominant Minor, G Sharp minor. Bars 14-39: Period II. Mostly in the original key. REMARKS: Period I may be divided…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.21 in B♭ major, BWV 866 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.21 in Bb Major BWV 866 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-10: Period I. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant, F. Bars 10-20: Period II. Modulatory. Coda that comfirms the Tonic key (Bars 18-20). REMARKS: Period…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.22 in B♭ minor, BWV 867 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.22 in Bb minor BWV 867 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-13: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-3). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant Minor, F. Bars 13-24: Period II. Dominant Pedal (Bars 20-22), followed by Tonic…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.23 in B major, BWV 868 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-6: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-3). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant. Bars 6-10: Period II. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.5 in D major, BWV 850 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is an example of the expansion of the simpler method of Arpeggios (as seen in Nos. 1 and 2) into more definitely vivid figures, occupying…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.6 in D minor, BWV 851 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-6: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-2). Ending with Perfect Cadence in the Relative Major, F. Bars 6-15: Period II. Ending with the Perfect Cadence in the Tonic Major, D….
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.7 in E♭ major, BWV 852 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.7 in Eb major BWV 852 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-10: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-4). Dominant Pedal (Bars 8-10). Concise statement of Theme I and confirmation of key of Tonic. Bars 10-25: Period II. Ending on the Dominant….
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.9 in E major, BWV 854 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-8: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1,2). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the Dominant. Bars 9-14: Period II. Modulates towards F sharp minor in Bars 9-10, and works…
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