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J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 & 2

2/14/2020, 97 Tracks, 5:11:24

Featuring

  • George Lepauw
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

Did you know?

1/7

Cultural Impact

The Well-Tempered Clavier is considered a foundation of Western music, influencing composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Shostakovich, and was called music's 'Old Testament' by Hans von Bülow.

Source: Booklet

Album & Artwork

The Bach48 album is not only an audio recording but also a visual album and a documentary film, directed by Martin Mirabel and Mariano Nante.

Source: Booklet

Recording & Production

The recording was made in just five days and nights, between August 21-26, 2017, at the Jakobskirche in Weimar, Germany, on a Steinway D piano.

Source: Booklet

Compositional Technique

The Well-Tempered Clavier showcases Bach's mastery of both free improvisation in the Preludes and formal, rule-driven counterpoint in the Fugues.

Source: Booklet

Interpretation

Pianist George Lepauw chose to record the entire Well-Tempered Clavier in the Jakobskirche, Weimar's oldest church, where Bach had served as Konzertmeister.

Source: Booklet

Composer Biography

Bach developed the initial idea for The Well-Tempered Clavier while imprisoned for four weeks in 1717 at the Bastille prison near his former court in Saxe-Weimar.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Johann Sebastian Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier was composed between 1717 and 1742, consisting of two volumes, each with 24 pairs of Preludes and Fugues.

Source: Booklet

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J.S. Bach: Prelude & Fugue in C Sharp Minor (Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 4), BWV 849
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J.S. Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2, Bww 870 - 893
J. S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Bach, JS: Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Teil II, BWV 870 - 893
J.S. Bach: The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080, Vol. 2
J. S. Bach - The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 & 2
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 (Excerpts) - Prelude and Fugue No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 886: I. Prelude
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