Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue in F major, BWV 856: 2 Editions
Part of Bach's seminal collection The Well-Tempered Clavier, this prelude and fugue demonstrates
the composer's mastery of complex polyphonic writing. The cheerful F major fugue features three
voices engaging in intricate thematic development, exemplifying Bach's pedagogical aim to showcase
all 24 major and minor keys.
This prelude and fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier exemplifies Bach's mastery of counterpoint and tonal exploration. The prelude features a flowing arpeggiated texture, while the fugue demonstrates rigorous three-voice polyphony with a joyful F major theme.
The Well-Tempered Clavier, completed in 1722, is a landmark collection of preludes and fugues in all 24 keys. It demonstrated the practicality of equal temperament tuning, allowing compositions to sound harmonious in any key. The F major Prelude and Fugue (BWV 856) showcases Bach's mastery of counterpoint and joyful expressiveness, influencing generations of composers.
This prelude and fugue in F major is No. 11 from Book I of Bach's seminal work "The Well-Tempered Clavier". The prelude features a lively 3/8 dance rhythm with continuous sixteenth-note motion, while the fugue is a spirited three-voice composition with a distinctive subject that leaps playfully through the F major scale. Bach composed these pieces to demonstrate the possibilities of playing in all 24 keys on a keyboard instrument tuned in equal temperament, a revolutionary concept at the time.
Compare different interpretations, tempos, and articulations in one curated library