Solo Instrumental Works 
Instrumentation: harpsichord
Original Key: C 
Year: 1722 
 
 

members area only Prelude 1  Well Tempered Clavier: J.S.Bach, Live in Buenos Aires, Argentina 1.71 MB

Hear Prelude 1

Johannes Sebastian Bach 

      Bach uses the simplest musical tools to create greatness. Hid dominion over the musical idiom allowed him to make the greatest musical phrases using an otherwise meaningless arpeggio. The main melody is embedded in the arpeggio and the technique of repetition is used to help the listener grasp the different modulations better.

It was completed at Cöthen in 1722  (Part II of the well tempered clavier preludes and fugues was completed at Leipzig around 1740)  The subject in Bach's clavier figures is clearly defined at the beginning and the Master takes us into a glorious trip. Once again, the listener feels that every note is exactly where it should be and the architecture is PERFECT.

Gounod's 19th century adaptation of Prelude 1 has become his most popular song: Ave Maria

Well tempered is a statement made towards the relatively new world of keyboard instruments. Whereas tempered means in tune, versus the non tempered instruments like the violin that had no fixed tuning (by means of frets or keys). 

To allow for more music in one staff, I use the repetition bars at the end of each arpeggio.