Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544: Difference between revisions
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[[File:BWV544.jpg|thumb|The beginning of the BWV 544 Prelude, in the hand of J.S. Bach.]] |
[[File:BWV544.jpg|thumb|The beginning of the BWV 544 Prelude, in the hand of J.S. Bach.]] |
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'''Prelude and Fugue in B minor''', [[BWV]] 544 is a piece of [[organ repertoire|organ music]] written by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] sometime between 1727 and 1731, during his tenure in [[Leipzig]].<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/composition/prelude-and-fugue-for-organ-in-b-minor-bwv-544-bc-j27-mc0002389577 Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544] at [[Allmusic]]</ref> Unlike most other organ [[Prelude and fugue|preludes and fugues]] of Bach, the [[Autograph (manuscript)|autograph]] fair copy of the score survives.<ref name=Jones58>[https://books.google.com/books?id=0YwzAQAAQBAJ |
'''Prelude and Fugue in B minor''', [[BWV]] 544 is a piece of [[organ repertoire|organ music]] written by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] sometime between 1727 and 1731, during his tenure in [[Leipzig]].<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/composition/prelude-and-fugue-for-organ-in-b-minor-bwv-544-bc-j27-mc0002389577 Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544] at [[Allmusic]]</ref> Unlike most other organ [[Prelude and fugue|preludes and fugues]] of Bach, the [[Autograph (manuscript)|autograph]] fair copy of the score survives.<ref name=Jones58>[https://books.google.com/books?id=0YwzAQAAQBAJ&dq=the+creative+development+of+js+bach+bwv+546&pg=PA58 Jones 2013, 58.]</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Prelude=== |
===Prelude=== |
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Tightly woven [[Thirty-second note|32nd note]] scales, suspensions, [[pedal point|dramatic octave pedal effects]], tension-building through repetition, and [[appoggiatura]] harmonies characterize this movement. The opening theme is followed by contrasting [[fugue|fugal]] episodes. The complex [[ritornello]] structure of this prelude makes the work structurally similar to that of other mature organ works, such as the [[Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548|BWV 548]] and [[Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546|BWV 546]] preludes.<ref>Jones 2013, 59.</ref> |
Tightly woven [[Thirty-second note|32nd note]] scales, suspensions, [[pedal point|dramatic octave pedal effects]], tension-building through repetition, and [[appoggiatura]] harmonies characterize this movement. The opening theme is followed by contrasting [[fugue|fugal]] episodes. The complex [[ritornello]] structure of this prelude makes the work structurally similar to that of other mature organ works, such as the [[Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548|BWV 548]] and [[Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546|BWV 546]] preludes.<ref>Jones 2013, 59.</ref> |
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===Fugue=== |
===Fugue=== |
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The [[Time Signature|4/4]] fugue is more restrained compared to the [[Time signature|6/8]] prelude, containing a relatively straightforward subject that moves |
The [[Time Signature|4/4]] fugue is more restrained compared to the [[Time signature|6/8]] prelude, containing a relatively straightforward subject that moves stepwise up and down the B minor scale. |
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[[File:BWV544 Fugue Subject.jpg|thumb|574x574px|The fugue subject]] |
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==Arrangements== |
==Arrangements== |
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{{Instrumental music by Johann Sebastian Bach}} |
{{Instrumental music by Johann Sebastian Bach}} |
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{{Portalbar|Classical Music}} |
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[[Category:Preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach]] |
[[Category:Preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach]] |
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[[Category:Fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach]] |
[[Category:Fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach]] |
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[[Category:Compositions for keyboard]] |
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[[Category:Compositions for organ]] |
[[Category:Compositions for organ]] |
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[[Category:Compositions in B minor]] |
[[Category:Compositions in B minor]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:19, 22 May 2024
Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 is a piece of organ music written by Johann Sebastian Bach sometime between 1727 and 1731, during his tenure in Leipzig.[1] Unlike most other organ preludes and fugues of Bach, the autograph fair copy of the score survives.[2]
History[edit]
Because of the deeply melancholic nature, the B minor affekt, and musical elements of the work, its respective movements are believed by some to have been performed as a prelude and postlude alongside the B minor Cantata Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198, which was performed on 17 October 1727 at the University Church in Leipzig as a funeral ode for Christiane Eberhardine, wife of August II the Strong, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland.[3] The autograph manuscript, along with that of the Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548, which is believed to have been written around the same time, share the same watermark and style of handwriting, which points to a composition period of 1727-1731.[2]
Composition[edit]
Prelude[edit]
Tightly woven 32nd note scales, suspensions, dramatic octave pedal effects, tension-building through repetition, and appoggiatura harmonies characterize this movement. The opening theme is followed by contrasting fugal episodes. The complex ritornello structure of this prelude makes the work structurally similar to that of other mature organ works, such as the BWV 548 and BWV 546 preludes.[4]
Fugue[edit]
The 4/4 fugue is more restrained compared to the 6/8 prelude, containing a relatively straightforward subject that moves stepwise up and down the B minor scale.
Arrangements[edit]
Piano transcriptions[edit]
The piece has been included in Franz Liszt's transcriptions of Bach's six "Great" organ Preludes and Fugues, BWV 543 - 548, for solo piano (S. 462). The piece was also transcribed by Ivan Karlovitsch Tscherlitzky.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 at Allmusic
- ^ a b Jones 2013, 58.
- ^ Williams 2003, 97.
- ^ Jones 2013, 59.
- ^ List of Bach-Tscherlitzky piano transcriptions at Bach-Cantatas.com
Work Cited[edit]
- Williams, Peter (2003), The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (2nd ed.), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-89115-9
- Jones, Richard D.P. (2013), The Creative Development of Johann Sebastian Bach, Volume II: 1717–1750: Music to Delight the Spirit. Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-969628-4
External links[edit]
- Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 autograph facsimile at International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP).
- Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 description at Netherlands Bach Society
- Free download of BWV 544 recorded by James Kibbie on the 1724–30 Trost organ in Stadtkirche, Waltershausen, Germany
