J. S.

Bachs
Well-Tempered Clavier
In-depth Analysis and Interpretation

Siglind Bruhn

EDITION
Fachverlag fr

ORZ
eisteswissenschaften

Bruhn, Siglind.
J. S. Bachs Well-Tempered Clavier: In-depth Analysis and
Interpretation
Waldkirch: Edition Gorz, 2014.
kontakt@edition-gorz.de http://edition-gorz.de
Second, completely revised edition
(First edition Hong Kong: Mainer International Ltd., 1993)
ISBN 978-3-938095-19-5
Siglind Bruhn 2014. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without
the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
Bibliographic information, including detailed bibliographic data,
are obtainable from the Deutsche Bibliothek under http://dnb.ddb.de
Printed in Germany by rombach digitale manufaktur, Freiburg

Table of Contents
How to use this book
Introduction
a) The Well-Tempered Scale
b) The Clavier
c) The Preludes in Bachs WTC
d) The Fugues in Bachs WTC
Questions Regarding a Prelude
Questions Regarding a Fugue
Additional Information

7
9
9
11
13
15
17
19
21

Considerations and Model Answers for Book I

WTC I/1 in C major
Prelude 49
WTC I/2 in C minor
Prelude 61
WTC I/3 in C major
Prelude 73
WTC I/4 in C minor
Prelude 87
WTC I/5 in D major
Prelude 101
WTC I/6 in D minor
Prelude 113
WTC I/7 in E major
Prelude 123
WTC I/8 in E /D minor
Prelude 135
WTC I/9 in E major
Prelude 147
WTC I/10 in E minor
Prelude 157
WTC I/11 in F major
Prelude 167
WTC I/12 in F minor
Prelude 175
WTC I/13 in F major
Prelude 189
WTC I/14 in F minor
Prelude 201
WTC I/15 in G major
Prelude 211
WTC I/16 in G minor
Prelude 223
WTC I/17 in A major
Prelude 233
WTC I/18 in G minor
Prelude 243
WTC I/19 in A major
Prelude 253
WTC I/20 in A minor
Prelude 267
WTC I/21 in B major
Prelude 281
WTC I/22 in B minor
Prelude 289
WTC I/23 in B major
Prelude 301
WTC I/24 in B minor
Prelude 311
5

Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue

47
52
66
77
91
105
116
129
139
150
161
169
180
192
204
214
226
235
246
256
270
283
292
303
315

6
Considerations and Model Answers for
WTC II/1 in C major
Prelude
WTC II/2 in C minor
Prelude
WTC II/3 in C major
Prelude
WTC II/4 in C minor
Prelude
WTC II/5 in D major
Prelude
WTC II/6 in D minor
Prelude
WTC II/7 in E major
Prelude
WTC II/8 in D minor
Prelude
WTC II/9 in E major
Prelude
WTC II/10 in E minor
Prelude
WTC II/11 in F major
Prelude
WTC II/12 in F minor
Prelude
WTC II/13 in F major
Prelude
WTC II/14 in F minor
Prelude
WTC II/15 in G major
Prelude
WTC II/16 in G minor
Prelude
WTC II/17 in A major
Prelude
WTC II/18 in G minor
Prelude
WTC II/19 in A major
Prelude
WTC II/20 in A minor
Prelude
WTC II/21 in B major
Prelude
WTC II/22 in B minor
Prelude
WTC II/23 in B major
Prelude
WTC II/24 in B minor
Prelude
Further Reading

Table of Contents
327
337
347
357
371
381
393
403
413
425
437
445
453
465
477
485
495
507
519
527
537
547
557
569

Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue
Fugue

325
330
340
351
363
375
385
397
407
417
429
440
448
458
468
479
488
498
510
521
530
540
549
560
573
579