Six Little Preludes (Bach)

The Six Little Preludes (BWV 933-938) are a group of preludes written by the composer Johann Sebastian Bach for harpsichord. They are all short, pedagogical efforts written in or around the period of 1717–1720, but they were not published until 1802. These pieces are all short but require a strong understanding of technique. This is one of a series of 18 preludes Bach sporadically produced around 1717–1720, primarily for instructive purposes, and were not intended for performance.

Little Prelude in C major, BWV 933

Little Prelude in C major, BWV 933 being played on a harpsichord by Gérard Janot

The C major prelude consists of two brief sections, repeated as a pair, followed by a variation on each section, again repeated as a pair.^[1] The first segment demands complete independence of the right and left hands, with the left hand providing a busy accompaniment. The bass material becomes more rudimentary in the second segment, as the treble adopts f of this prelude makes minimal changes to the basic material, mainly brightening it by lifting the slightly altered melody into a higher register.

Little Prelude in C minor, BWV 934

Prelude BWV 934 being played on a harpsichord by Gérard Janot

This C minor effort is similar to a minuet.^[2] It features a lively angular theme. The theme and second subject are played through twice and vary considerably on their third appearance. This piece generally lasts just over a minute.

Little Prelude in D minor, BWV 935

The Little Prelude in D minor contains features that are similar to a two-part invention.^[3] This work generally lasts about a minute and a half.

Little Prelude in D major, BWV 936

This Prelude has features associated with a trio sonata: it contains two upper lines and a roving bass part underpinning them.^[4] The work opens with a lively theme. It is played through twice, then varied on its third appearance, showing much development.

Little Prelude in E major, BWV 937

This E major Prelude follows a left hand staccato pattern which the right hand then follows along with, which is a common Bach pattern used in his pieces.^[5] Unlike Prelude in E minor, this piece is interpreting a more lively scenario indicating that it is major, though Bach's frequently used mordents are not as common in this prelude.

Correction: there is no left hand staccato pattern in Bach's Little Prelude in E major, BMV 937.

Little Prelude in E minor, BWV 938

This E minor prelude contains features similar to the composer's inventions.^[6] Bach follows a pattern used in many of the pieces in the set, in presenting the main thematic material twice in more or less the same form, then developing it. This piece is approximately one-and-a-half minutes long.

References

↑ BWV 933 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 1, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
↑ BWV 934 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 2, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
↑ BWV 935 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 3, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
↑ BWV 936 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 4, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
↑ BWV 937 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 5, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
↑ BWV 938 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 6, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)

External links

6 Kleine Präludien: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

Compositions for Organ, Keyboard and Lute by Johann Sebastian Bach

Organ	Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful) Sonatas, BWV 525–530 Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548 Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful) Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769 Neumeister chorales, BWV 1090–1120 Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 1128

Keyboard	Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue English Suites French Suites Goldberg Variations (discography, Gould recording) Inventions and Sinfonias Italian Concerto Overture in the French style Partitas for Keyboard (No. 4, No. 6) Prelude in E minor, BWV 855a Six Little Preludes The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 (Preludes and Fugues in Book I: C major, BWV 846, C♯ minor, BWV 849, G minor, BWV 861; in Book II: C major, BWV 870, F minor, BWV 881)

Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 (Bourrée) Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000

Mixed collections	Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552 / Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689 / Duets, BWV 802–805 Concerto arrangements for solo keyboard, BWV 592–597 and 972–987 Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Twelve Little Preludes

List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 176625576 LCCN: nr94023646 GND: 300010443 BNF: cb140085648 (data) NLA: 35899781 BNE: XX3385920

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.