Piano Forum

this grand prelude and fugue was written orginally for the Organ, and busoni's arrangement for concert piano is really the gold standard for these. maybe partly because the organ part is much more hands than foot oriented, it just works in a magical way, and busoni really knew how to keep 'adding stops' throughout. i've played this many times live but never got a video so here it is.

this is a very early work in bach's career, from the weimar years. it shows in the prelude, which is in the style of a praeludium, meaning there are multiple diverse sections. the fugue subject is also typical of his early work, very simple, probably having begun as an improvisation. this piece shares some characteristics with the rarely played Toccata in g minor (for harpsichord).

hope you enjoy this !