Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier
An Exploration of the 48 Preludes and Fugues
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About the Book
Through a musical language involving symbols, numbers, and tonality, J.S. Bach created emotional dimension in the preludes and fugues of The Well-Tempered Clavier. This book explores the use of that musical language, revealing how Bach used harmonic design and melodic and rhythmic motivic formulas to adhere to the basic doctrine of the Theory of Affects—i.e., that one mood will govern one piece.
The book examines the significance of key and the emotional dimension Bach discerned in each tonality; the symbolism of melodic and rhythmic motifs; and the symbolism of numbers. It considers the thematic and rhythmic links between a prelude and its companion fugue in each book, and between a prelude and fugue in Book One and those in the same key in Book Two. It also includes reference to other instrumental works by Bach in the same key and melodic patterns.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Marjorie Wornell Engels
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 224
Bibliographic Info: photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2544-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0475-6
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. C Major 9
2. C Minor 15
3. C-Sharp Major 22
4. C-Sharp Minor 28
5. D Major 39
6. D Minor 46
7. E-Flat Major 56
8. E-Flat Minor/D-Sharp Minor 64
9. E Major 73
10. E Minor 82
11. F Major 91
12. F Minor 98
13. F-Sharp Major 107
14. F-Sharp Minor 115
15. G Major 121
16. G Minor 127
17. A-Flat Major 134
18. G-Sharp Minor 141
19. A Major 151
20. A Minor 158
21. B-Flat Major 167
22. B-Flat Minor 175
23. B Major 184
24. B Minor 194
Bibliography 207
Index 209
Book Reviews & Awards
“buy this book…this is a gem”—B.C. Registered Music Teachers Association Provincial Newsletter.
