J. S. Bach - Prelude & Fughetta in G Major, BWV 902, Harpsichord

Prelude - 0:00
Fughetta - 3:55

I loved this prelude as soon as I came across it some years ago! The contrasts and transformations in the material used are uncommon for a Bach prelude, where he usually chose to be very saving with the motifs he used. The structure reminds me more of his (magnificent) concertos.

The short, uncomplicated fughetta takes a secondary role, almost like a coda after this lengthy prelude, and yet it's brilliant enough that he would later revise and lengthen it (just a little) to add it to his epic Well-Tempered Clavier Book II, with a simpler prelude this time, and the roles reversed!

Recorded on Werkmeister III temperament, a common choice of historical tuning for baroque music.
September 2024.

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