Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852, is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the seventh prelude and fugue in the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer.
Analysis
Prelude
The prelude is 70 measures long, and consists of three sections:[1]
- The first section begins from the first measure and lasts until m. 10. It is a short toccata,[2] mainly made of energetic semiquaver movements, with the ending two measures (m. 8 and 9) made of demisemiquavers.[3] It establishes the tonic key (E♭), presents theme I, and ends on the dominant (B♭).[1]
- The second section starts at m. 10, and ends at m. 25. It is a chorale, in the style of four-part harmony, introducing theme II.[4]
- The third section starts at m. 25 and lasts until the end. It is a four-voice double fugue, and the first subject is introduced in the alto (theme I extended), second subject in the bass (theme II).[1][5] This section is three times as long as the other two sections together.[6]
This prelude is unique among the 48 preludes of The Well-Tempered Clavier because it already includes a fully developed fugue. It may originally have been conceived for organ (the early version has fewer semiquavers in the bass of the second section than the final one).[7][a]
Fugue
The fugue is 37 measures long and has three voices.[1]
Notes and references
Notes
- ^ Harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder also supports this idea. He cites the example that the bass D in m. 64 is only a semiquaver, which he considers too short, and awkward. In the organ, this D can be sustained because of the pedal, but with only a keyboard (e.g. in the harpsichord), the tenor has to move on and the bass D has to be released again.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d "Bach: Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E♭ major, BWV 852 Analysis". Tonic Chord. 2018-05-05. Archived from the original on 2024-05-31.
- ^ Belder (2021), 4:11
- ^ Riemann (1893), pp. 45–46.
- ^ Belder (2021), 4:40
- ^ The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852 – animated score and analysis on YouTube
- ^ Riemann (1893), pp. 45.
- ^ Ledbetter (2002), p. 174
- ^ Belder (2021), 6:00
Sources
- Belder, Pieter-Jan (2021-02-14), Belder on Bach WTC I Prelude and fugue no. 7 in E-flat major BWV 852, Netherlands Bach Society – via YouTube
- Ledbetter, David (2002). Bach's Well-tempered Clavier: The 48 Preludes and Fugues. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09707-8. JSTOR j.ctt1npnnf.
- Riemann, Hugo (1893). Analysis of J. S. Bach's Wohltemperirtes clavier (48 preludes & fugues). Vol. 1. Translated by Shedlock, John South. London: Augener & Co.
Further reading
- Gray, Cecil (1938). "I.7: Prelude and fugue (three parts) in E-flat major". The Forty-eight Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach. Oxford University Press. pp. 33–34 – via Internet Archive.
