Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. The 48 Preludes & Fugues

Bach?s Well-tempered Clavier (or the 48 Preludes and Fugues) stands at the core of baroque keyboard music and has been a model and inspiration for performers and composers ever since it was written. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains Bach?s various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew, and provides commentaries for each prelude and fugue.

In his text, David Ledbetter addresses the main focal points mentioned by Bach in his original 1722 title page. Drawing on Bach literature over the past three hundred years, he explores German traditions of composition types and Bach?s novel expansion of them; explains Bach?s instruments and innovations in keyboard technique in the general context of early eighteenth-century developments; reviews instructive and theoretical literature relating to keyboard temperaments from 1680 to 1750; and discusses Bach?s pedagogical intent when composing the Well-tempered Clavier. Ledbetter?s commentaries on individual preludes and fugues equip readers with the concepts necessary to make their own assessment and include information about the sources when details of notation, ornaments, and fingerings have a bearing on performance.

David Ledbetter is senior lecturer at the Royal Northern College of Music.

CONTENIDO:

List of illustrations
Preface
Abbreviations

Introduction
- The 1722 title-page
- Genesis and sources

PART ONE: CONCEPTS
1- Clavier
Clavier
Harpsichord
Clavichord
Spinet
Organ
Lautenwerk
Pianoforte
Summary
2- Well-tempered
The background to Bach's tunnings
Bach and tunning to 1722
Bach and tunning c. 1740
Summary
3- Preludes
The Prelude and Fugue as a genre
- Book I
Prelude tradition
The traditional sectional Praeludium
Figuration Preludes
The Invention principle
Sonata, Dance and Ritornello principles
Other Types
- Book II
Types in common with Book I
Newer types
4- Fugues
Definition
The theoretical background
Bach and the term Fugue
Rhetoric
Expression and character
Stile antico
Types of invertible counterpoint
Genera of counterpoint
Verset fugues
Partimenti
The Concerto principle
5- All the Tones and Semitones
Circles and labyrinths
Key integrity
Ut Re Mi
Solmisation and the Heavenly Harmony
6- Bach as Teacher
Bach's educational tradition
Bach's teaching programme
Keyboard technique
Composition
7- Book I
8- Book II

Appendix A: Examples 7.30, 8.9, 8.21
Appendix B: The problem of temperament
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index