What's your favorite Prelude and Fugue?

[kghayesh]

Just wanted to know. Here i am talking about Bach only (The well tempered klavier) not other P&F such as Mendelssohn's and Shostakovich's.

As for me i prefer the no. 1 in C Major (Book 1), what i like most about the fugue is that the subject enters so many times (nearly every 1 or 2 bars). Also, the prelude, despite of its simplicity, it has a wonderful and delicate sound of successive arpeggios.

[arensky]

Eb minor from Book I.


When I listen to this I feel that I am floating through space, through the stars. I find real peace in it. And in playing it also, though I've never performed it (hard to memorize), it's something I might keep for myself.

[prometheus]

Probably prelude no.6 book II and fugue no.9 book II.

But I don't really like most preludes at all actually.

[stevie]

d# minor , book 2

[pseudopianist]

Preludes:

Book 1 C major
Book 1 D major
Book 2 G minor
Book 2 C# major

Fugues:

Book 1 in C major
Book 1 in B major
Book 1 in C# minor
Book 2 in G minor (The best fugue ever!)

[happyface94]

Eb minor from Teil 1. Which i'm playing.

[mlsmithz]

Probably E-flat major from Book I, especially the prelude with its two-subject fugue.  A close second would go to Book I, C-sharp major, one of the most exhilarating Bach pieces I've played.

[rohansahai]

E minor from book 1.
G minor from book 2 (Elena Kuschnerova is unmatched at this one !)

[pseudopianist]

G minor from book 2 (Elena Kuschnerova is unmatched at this one !)

She does a really amazing preformance of it, I must say.

[rohansahai]

She does a really amazing preformance of it, I must say.

Have you heard any other P&F's by her?

[burstroman]

"a minor", bk II

[jeremyjchilds]

D major, book one

[Pumkinhead]

No. 22 in B flat Minor, Book 1
No. 3 in C sharp major, Book 1

[danyal]

Bb minor, bk 1

[raffyplayspiano]

definitely C sharp major book I, that fugue is a killer! 

raffy

[viking]

I do like C# minor, no.4, Bk 1.  The fugue sounds almost Gothic.
SAM

[6ft 4]

Eb minor from Book I.


When I listen to this I feel that I am floating through space, through the stars. I find real peace in it. And in playing it also, though I've never performed it (hard to memorize), it's something I might keep for myself.

Perfect description.

Its also easy to sight read due to its slow speed:

I'd say i've been playing the prelude on average once a day for about the last 2 months. So peaceful. And ofcourse the Tierce de Picardie 

[Bouter Boogie]

They all sound the same to me

[hazypurple21]

They all sound the same to me

Unlike some members here, I won't bash you for saying that. I've heard your playing, and I find it admirable. Have you ever studied any of the well tempered clavier? If not, I strongly suggest it. Not only will it help your already strong technique, but it will open doors for you musically. When it comes to Bach, one cannot just hear, you have to listen.

[prometheus]

https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~tas3/wtc/wtc.html

Try this.

[luc]

I like Nr. 2 / Book I the most 

[hazypurple21]

Oops... sorry about that. Shoulda photoshopped it a little. Here's another pic. Puffy hair, confused expression, asymmetrical eyebrows and all.   

[pseudopianist]

Oops... sorry about that. Shoulda photoshopped it a little. Here's another pic. Puffy hair, confused expression, asymmetrical eyebrows and all.   

?

[Bouter Boogie]

Unlike some members here, I won't bash you for saying that. I've heard your playing, and I find it admirable. Have you ever studied any of the well tempered clavier? If not, I strongly suggest it. Not only will it help your already strong technique, but it will open doors for you musically. When it comes to Bach, one cannot just hear, you have to listen.

I've played Preludes & Fugues before, but still I can't really keep them apart from each other, you know what I mean?

[prometheus]

No. Of course some of them are very similar, but they all sound very different.

[hazypurple21]

?

Sorry! Posted on the wrong thread! I feel like an idiot.

[hazypurple21]

I've played Preludes & Fugues before, but still I can't really keep them apart from each other, you know what I mean?

For some contrast, try listening to D major and C minor, both from book one. Which ones have you played?

[Bouter Boogie]

For some contrast, try listening to D major and C minor, both from book one. Which ones have you played?

I'm playing no. 8 in D-flat minor at the moment.. Don't know which I played in the past, I'll try to find that out

[pseudopianist]

I'm playing no. 8 in D-flat minor at the moment.. Don't know which I played in the past, I'll try to find that out

D-Flat minor? 8 flats? I don't know that one.

Just joking, you mean the Eb minor, right?

[Bouter Boogie]

D-Flat minor? 8 flats? I don't know that one.

Just joking, you mean the Eb minor, right?

Oops, I actually meant Prelude & Fugue no. 8 in D-sharp minor.. Translation mistake, sorry!

[rafant]

Prelude sole: Book 2, No. 24, I am surprised of finding so much drama and a resemblance to caribbean rhythms.
Fugue sole: Book 2, No. 23: Majestic, gorgeous theme and monumental development.
Both Prelude and Fughe: I can't decide between No. 13 and No. 17, Bk 1. Simply charming ones.

[hazypurple21]

Bouter Boogie, I know just what you need.

[BoliverAllmon]

bwahahahahaha

[ahmedito]

For preludes:

Eb major from book one.
C# major from book two (it always feels hawaian to me )
Bb major from book two.


For fugues:

A major from book 1.
C# major from book 1.
Eb major from book 2.

[williampiano]

My favorites are:

book 1-
C Major
c minor
d minor (i'm learning this one)
F Major
a minor

book 2-
C Major
E flat Major
e minor
f minor
G Major

[pianoplayjl]

Bach

WTC 1
C major
C minor
C sharp major
C sharp minor
D major
D minor
F sharp minor
B flat minor

WTC 2
C major
C sharp minor

JL