Bach's Preludes and Fugues

Author: J.S. Bach (Germany)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-07-01
Features: This collection of pieces is compiled through an in-depth study of Bach's musical style, by comparing numerous authoritative versions and incorporating opinions from some experts. Appropriate additions of tempo and expression marks, as well as annotations on the performance of ornamentation, have been included to remain as faithful as possible to the original manuscript while facilitating beginners in better understanding and grasping Bach's musical style. It also serves as a reference for teaching. The first 12 pieces are 12 small prelude pieces for beginners. Among them, the 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th pieces were discovered in the Piano Little Pieces for W.F. Bach, which Bach used to teach his son. The remaining 5 pieces come from the manuscript of Bach's friend and fervent admirer, Carl Friedrich Naumann. These 12 small prelude pieces were first collected and published by F.K. Gr?bener, and their order follows the progression of major and minor keys in the same tonality. The 13th to 18th pieces are six small prelude pieces for beginners, derived from Forkel's version. Their order is arranged by Bach himself, respectively in C major, c minor, d minor, D major, E major, and e minor. The 19th piece, a two-part fugue in c minor, has been significantly revised by Naumann. Whether this fugue was composed by Bach himself is still debated, with some suggesting it may be a violin duo piece by another composer. The 20th piece, a three-part fugue in C major, was composed around 1732 in K?then. It was printed based on Forkel's manuscript. The 21st piece, a three-part fugue in C major, was printed based on the manuscript of the Piano Little Pieces for W.F. Bach. The 22nd and 23rd pieces are two prelude and fugue pieces in d minor and e minor, respectively. The e minor piece is printed entirely according to Bach's manuscript. The d minor piece has a slightly organ-like quality, and the manuscript used by Gr?bener has been lost. The 24th piece, an a minor prelude and fugue, comes from Naumann's manuscript.