Bach WTC

[echoyjeff222]

Hi all,

I'm planning to start playing book 1 of Bach's WTC soon ... any suggestions of where to start/some order to follow? Right now, I'm just listening through them and seeing which one sounds nice, but I'm preeeetty sure that there's a better way to pick one

Thanks!

[j_menz]

First off, have you played any baroque music before? And have you played any fugues before?  If not, the two part inventions and the Little Preludes and Fugues would be worth having a look at first.

That said, start with one that (a) you like, (b) looks manageable so far as the Prelude goes and (c) has a 3 voice Fugue.  Keep picking that way until either none qualify (so go for a harder prelude or a 4 voice fugue or move on to Book II) or you've done all 24 (so go to Book II).

Either that way, or go 1, 2, 3, 4.....24.

[echoyjeff222]

I've played one piece from the WTC before ...

Prelude and Fuge No. 2 from the Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1.


Do you have a list of what ones have a three voice fugue?

[j_menz]

I've played one piece from the WTC before ...

Prelude and Fuge No. 2 from the Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1.


Do you have a list of what ones have a three voice fugue?

You should be fine then.

I looked for such a list, and there must be one somewhere, but couldn't find one.  Most, if not all editions, however, note the number of voices at the start of each fugue.  You should see something like "a 3 voci" or "a 4 voci". The 3, 4 or 5 is the number of voices.

[echoyjeff222]

No problem, I'll ask my teacher. Also, are there online scores of the Alfred edition of the WTC? I was looking on IMSLP, but I didn't see any by Alfred ..

[j_menz]

The Alfred edition was an in-house editorial job by Willard Palmer. He died in 1996, so will be copyright for many years.  The WTC is out of copyright, but the editorial marks are and it's hard to separate them in a scan, so won't be on IMSLP.

[j_menz]

There's a 1 page summary showing the number of voices for each here (pdf)

[chopin2015]

i would look at a few that are 1 page long prelude and 1 page long fugue. i just finished a few from book 1 and g sharp minor p and f from book II. Let me tell you, after working on multiple p&fs at a time, I now sight read some of both preludes and fugues. When working on a fugue, if you can't read a part of it, try taking just one or two voices in one hand, then add voices one by one, until you are playing all voices together. I am a drama queen, and I love the minor fugues, such as the c sharp minor (this fugue is more beautiful when played from the heart/memory, as it is lament, a complaint, a sad prayer) book 1, the f minor, the f sharp minor (OMG, I recommend! read it.) g minor (g major is exciting, the fugue is very nice), g sharp minor, a minor (VERY TRICKY, I do not recommend!!!), b flat minor...

some of the beautiful ones, an easy one is f sharp major, if you can do the trills. it is so gorgeous, A major is the most beautiful prelude. E flat major is amazing to learn, as well...the e major prelude is 1 page and so is the fugue. It was very fast to learn, and the fugue is very exciting.

i think i listed 12 of 24 from book 1. that's a start on book 1.