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 No.11 in F major, BWV 880 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is built on the characteristic figure as seen in the first three bars above. Bars 1-16: Period I. Starting in the Tonic, F major, it touches the…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.12 in F minor, BWV 881 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-28: Period I. Dominant Pedal (Bars 4-8). Dominant Pedal of Relative major (Bars 16-20). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Relative Major, A flat,…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.13 in F♯ major, BWV 882 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Two Themes are employed for the most important work in this Prelude: Theme 1 (Bars 1-4). Theme 2 (Bars 29-31). Bars 1-17: Period I. Ending with a Perfect Cadence…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.14 in F♯ minor, BWV 883 Analysis

Analysis Prelude Bars 1-12: Period I. Starting in F sharp minor, it briefly touches the Dominant before ending in the Tonic. Ends with a Perfect Cadence in the key of the Dominant Minor,…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.15 in G major, BWV 884 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is constructed upon the following figure seen above. Bars 1-16: Period I. Tonic Pedal in the Bass part, with the Dominant Pedal reiterated in semiquavers (sixteenth notes)…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.16 in G minor, BWV 885 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is built upon the figure seen in the first couple of bars above. Bars 1-9: Period I. Tonic Pedal, at once establishing the key (Bars 1-2). Touches…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.17 in A♭ major, BWV 886 Analysis

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.17 in Ab major BWV 886 Analysis 1

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY The employment of the four themes is notable throughout this Prelude, which is of unusual length and pretension. Theme I: Bars 1-4. Theme II: Bars 5-6: Theme…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.18 in G♯ minor, BWV 887 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Period is constructed upon the figures seen in the above bars. Bars 1-24: Period I. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in Dominant Major, D sharp; double bar. Bars…
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.19 in A major, BWV 888 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: Bars 1-9: Period I. Starting in A major, it begins to work towards the Dominant at Bar 6. Ending with a Cadence in the key of the Dominant, E….
Read more

Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.20 in A minor, BWV 889 Analysis

Analysis Prelude SUMMARY: This Prelude is built upon the following figures (Bar 1: Theme I, Bass; Theme II, Treble), which change places with each other, at the distance of one…
Read more