Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude & Fugue 2
in C Minor, BWV 847
from The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1
A fiery Prelude and a catchy Fugue form one of the first pairs students usually learn from The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Year: 1722
Period: Baroque
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Prelude & Fugue 2 BWV 847 Prelude - FREE SAMPLE 
Fiery Fingers, Delicious Dissonances
The Prelude & Fugue in c minor is usually one of the first pieces students learn from The Well-Tempered Clavier. The fiery Prelude is not only striking but can also serve as an excellent and musically rewarding Etude, demanding well-developed finger coordination to play with command and musical finish. In a similar fashion to the Prelude in C major which precedes it, it uses a repeating motif of notes to which a chord progression descending the piano is applied, adding a tricky coda marked Presto, and even a short recitativo before the piece comes to a close.
The catchy and dance-like Fugue is one of the easier fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier. During its exposition, it introduces the subject and two countersubjects which remain faithful companions through subsequent subject entries. Its structure is clearly delineated, alternating these entries with episodes featuring sequences of material derived from the subject and countersubject throughout the piece. At the end comes a so-called “pedal point” – an octave-reinforced C held over multiple bars underlining the final entry of the subject, creating some delicious dissonances before the final resolution to a Picardy third.
Background
An early version of the c minor prelude appears in the “Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach” (“Notebook for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach”), a collection of keyboard pieces Bach compiled for his son Wilhelm Friedemann in 1720. In the first surviving autograph manuscript for The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, which was set down in 1722, the coda featuring the Presto, the recitativo, and a final ending flourish marked Allegro was added.Forum posts about this piece:
How good are first year conservatory students. by fanofmarthaargerich879
Hi all. I recently was accepted into a top conservatory and chose to enroll. I am getting major imposter syndrome and I feel as if I am not technically good enough. For my audition I played Bach prelude &...
Is it a good repertoire? by faa2010
Hi, I am preparing my last exam which is supposed to be in a year: a piano recital. These are the pieces I plan to play: Bach Prelude and fugue in c minor Beethoven Sonata op...
Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C minor BWV 847 | In-depth Tutorial by antune
Hi everyone, This is my new tutorial video on Bach's C minor Prelude & Fugue from the first book. The first part of the video focuses on the Prelude and the second part on the Fugue. I...
Trouble playing right and left hand in sync in Bach’s Prelude in C Minor by whocloud
Hello everyone! I’ve been working on Bach’s Prelude in C Minor since the end of last month, and can play the right hand part at a fast speed. However, my left hand lags behind & struggles to catch up in...
prelude and fugue in c minor by fredchopin
When reading threads about this the prelude and fugue in c minor, a common subject that comes up is the difficulty of the fugue. Every forum says that the prelude part which looks much harder is much easier...
Help for auditionspieces (in Sweden) by yumaisch
Hello! I Will audition in sweden next spring and would like to hear your suggestions/opinions on My auditionpieces! The only thing I know is that it should be four pieces from different epochs. One first...
Help weak left hand by yumaisch
Hey! I am right now playing playing Bach’s prelude in c minor! I just realized why I just don’t improve (played it for a while now, but then got stuck although I know the note material!)
Help! my audition! by yumaisch
Hello everyone! So i will be auditioning for classical music college next year (February) in Sweden! And I need help with my repertoire (cause I have no idea what is best to auditioning with) I need...
Good "Standard" repetoire? by yumaisch
Hi! i am a Pianostudent who is at intermediate Level! I wanted to know what a good "standard" repetoire is? like pieces that are good to know or good to have played! my...
Pianist earn $500 USD here - Fugue by georgey
Hello Pianostreet members. About 40 years ago, I wrote a 3 voice fugue in the style of Bach as one of many compositions written “in the style of” for my composition classes. I never had a chance...
Accessible duo works with piano parts by irrational
Hi. I would really like to learn some works playable with another player in preparation perhaps for a long future concerto work. There are some great sonatas and other works, but I am not sure...
Opera in Piano Music by beethovenfan01
Perhaps the title is somewhat misleading. I'm just curious how big a role opera plays in piano music, especially it's composition and interpretation. I know it influenced Chopin's...
What difficulty level would you classify this Liszt transcription? by mishamalchik
Where would you place the difficulty of the Schubert Liszt transcription "Der Doppelganger?" I ask because I need to determine whether or not it's appropriate for a competition.
Help selecting competition repertoire by mishamalchik
Hello! So I am entering a competition in the spring in which I must play three piecesof my choice, one of which must not be worked on with my teacher, who will be one of the...
i want to go to a music school but i am absolute garbage...... by deadlyhippo4
And when i mean garbage, i mean GARBAGE!! I literally made an account here just a few minutes ago just so i can post this, this has been going on for far too long. The school requires a prelude and...
Prelude and Fugue WTC C Minor by pianogirl4christ
Hey guys! I'm in the process of learning Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C Minor. I have the notes down in the Prelude, I just need help getting it up to speed with my hands together. My...
Members who like this piece have also downloaded:
Prelude & Fugue BWV 847 No. 2 in C Minor, a composition by the baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1722 and is part of WTC 1 by Bach.