Bach, J.S.: Well-Tempered Clavier (The), Books 1 and 2

Featuring

Enrica Cavallo
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Performer Biography

Enrica Cavallo, a Milanese pianist, has performed publicly since the age of six and has played as a soloist with over fifty conductors, including Paul Hindemith and Otto Klemperer.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Bach's deep spiritual dimension is evident in his music, as shown by the abbreviation S.D.G. (Soli Deo Gloria) written in his own hand at the end of the last Fugue in B minor.

Composition History

Johann Sebastian Bach himself introduced "The Well-Tempered Clavier" as a work for young, eager musicians and for the enjoyment of advanced players.

Interpretation

The performer, Enrica Cavallo, chose a tonal sequence over a temporal one for this recording, alternating Preludes and Fugues in the same key from both volumes to highlight Bach's creative ideas.

Compositional Technique

The title "Well-Tempered Clavier" refers to the then-new and debated 'equal temperament' tuning system, which divides the octave into twelve exact semitones, allowing the use of all 24 major and minor keys.

Instruments

In Bach's time, the term 'Klavier' referred generally to keyboard instruments, including the harpsichord, clavichord, and organ, leading to historical debate about which instrument was most suitable for these works.