Bach Well Tempered Clavier Book 2

A series of detailed analytical notes of the 24 Prelude and Fugues of J.S Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier Book 2. 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 in No.1 C major, BWV 870 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.1 in C major BWV 870 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-5: Period I. Starting upon the Tonic Pedal, and ending with a Perfect Cadence in the Tonic key. Bars 5-11: Period II. Gradually works away from the Tonic, touching…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.2 in C minor, BWV 871 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This prelude is built mainly upon the quaver (eighth note) and semiquaver (sixteenth note) figure as seen above. Bars 1-12: Period I. Ending with Perfect Cadence in the Relative…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.3 in C♯ major, BWV 872 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is built upon the characteristic figure seen above, which is used twice in every bar, until the Fugato (3/8). Bars 1-6: Period I. Ending with a Perfect…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.4 in C♯ minor, BWV 873 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-17: Period I. Theme I (Bars 1-5). Establishes the Tonic, C sharp minor and works to its Dominant Major (G sharp) (Bar 5) before returning to the…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.5 in D major, BWV 874 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-16: Period I. Dominant Pedal, key of A (Bars 10,11). Ending with Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant, A. Bars 13-16: Coda. Confirming the key of the Dominant,…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.6 in D minor, BWV 875 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-26: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-3 and 6-8). Touches F major and B flat Major (Bars 11-13) before returning to the Tonic region (Bar 15). Ending…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.7 in E♭ major, BWV 876 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.7 in Eb Major BWV 876 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-4: are devoted to establishing firmly the key of the Tonic, and preparing for the entry of the Theme upon which the Prelude is built. Bars 4-12: Period…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.8 in D♯ minor, BWV 877 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-16: Period I. Starting at once with Theme I in D sharp minor, it modulates to the Relative Major, F sharp (Bars 8-9) before ending with a Perfect…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.9 in E major, BWV 878 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-8: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1-5), followed by a Dominant Pedal (Bars 5-7). Ending with Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant, B. Bars 9-24: Period II. Staring in…
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Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.10 in E minor, BWV 879 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-48: Period I. Supertonic Pedal – i.e., Dominant of the Dominant of the original key (Bars 29-33), followed by a Dominant Pedal (Bars 33-37). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the…
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