Bach - Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major, BWV890 (WTC II)

[andhow04]

the b-flat prelude and fugue frm the second book.  this is a grand prelude, rich even by bach's standards,  full of fascinating counterpoint in the form of scales and arpeggios.  the voices are in a really delicate conversation, echoing each other in subtle and unexpected ways, and it's a little hard to take it all in!  i adore this prelude.
the fugue takes its profile mainly from the two note slurs that end the subject, and it is one of those fugues that he uses reall yonly a couple of themes to elaborate the entire piece (similar to d minor in book I).  but it doesn't ahve the effect of austerity, which was sometimes the case in fugues in book I i feel (like d minor again). one of bach's accomplishments in book II i suppose.

UPDATE: 11/13/12 surreptitiously recorded a new version as this one was recorded on a different and subpar piano. i find this prelude possibly the most difficult of all of them, in terms of timing and delicacy, and also wanted to improve on my first clumsy attempt.

(10)

the prelude and fugue in b-flat from the first book:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=42142.msg464533#msg464533

[johnlewisgrant]

listening now to the prelude.... played exactly as I feel it.... and such a GREAT prelude.... a great romantic moment in Bach... not much played.... but so intriguing and so, so beautiful.... a great recording you made of it... as good as anything out there in the "commercial world."

This version speaks to me.

JG