This prelude from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier demonstrates foundational harmonic progressions that influenced Western music. Its flowing arpeggios create a meditative quality while exploring all keys through equal temperament.
An early Bach organ work characterized by exuberant energy. The prelude opens with a pedal fanfare resembling brass instruments, while the fugue features a distinctive subject and dramatic interruptions where pedals break into broken octaves, answered by six-voice chords. Both movements conclude with Bach's signature quasi-cadenza passages.
Composed during Bach's Weimar period, BWV 531 is an early organ work showcasing his mastery of counterpoint. The prelude features flowing arpeggios, while the fugue demonstrates intricate three-voice polyphony. This piece reflects North German organ traditions and Bach's study of Buxtehude's style.
