Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 855

Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 855, is the 10th prelude and fugue for keyboard (harpsichord) in the first book of The Well Tempered Clavier, composed in 1722 by Johann Sebastian Bach.^[1] The Prelude in E minor, BWV 855a, features as No. 18 ("Praeludium 5") in the 1720 Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. BWV 855a may also refer to both this Prelude and a Fughetta in the same key, an early version of BWV 855. Alexander Siloti made a piano arrangement in B minor of the Prelude BWV 855a.

Prelude and Fughetta, BWV 855a

Where the 1998 version of the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV^2a) described BWV 855a as only a Prelude, based on its appearance in the Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach,^[2] BWV 855a may also refer to both this Prelude and a Fughetta in E minor, found in a manuscript copy made between 1750 and the early 19th century, once owned by F. Konwitschny but later lost. The Prelude and Fughetta were published in Series V, Volume 6.1 of the Neue Bach-Ausgabe, based on various sources for the Prelude, and on the Konwitschny source (of which a film copy had been preserved) for the Fughetta.^[3] BWV 855a is an early version of BWV 855, No. 10 in the 1722 first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier.^[4]

$\new PianoStaff << \new Staff { \time 4/4 \clef treble \key e \minor \chordmode { g8:3.6 r r4 e'8:m/b r r4 | \repeat unfold 2 { a8:3-.6 r r4 } | } } \new Staff { \clef bass \key e \minor \relative c { \repeat unfold 2 { e16 g a b a b a g } | \repeat unfold 2 { e a b c b c b a } | } } >>$

Prelude and Fugue, BWV 855, No. 10 of The Well Tempered Clavier, Book I

Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 855, No. 10 in Book 1 of The Well-Tempered Clavier; piano performance by Kimiko Ishizaka

Prelude

Fugue

Problems playing these files? See media help.

This piece was written for harpsichord by Bach in 1722 or earlier.^[5]

$\version "2.18.2" \header { tagline = ##f } \score { \new Staff \with { %fontSize = #-2 } << \relative c'' { \key e \minor \time 4/4 %% INCIPIT CBT I-10, BWV 855, mi mineur << { e2~^\markup{Prelude} e8 fis32 e dis e e8.\prall dis32 e | } \\ { \set Staff.ottavation = #"8" \once \override Staff.OttavaBracket.direction = #DOWN \repeat unfold 2 { e,16 g a b a b a g } \unset Staff.ottavation } \\ { \repeat unfold 2 { < b g >8 s8 s4 }} >> \bar ".." \time 3/4 e,16^\markup{Fugue} g b e dis e d e cis e c e | b e dis e } >> \layout { \context { \Score \remove "Metronome_mark_engraver" \override SpacingSpanner.common-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1/2) } } \midi {} }$

Prelude

There are 41 measures. The bass line is made up of running sixteenth notes throughout. The treble line is made up of running sixteenth notes throughout with mixed notes in between.^[6]

BWV 855: opening bars of Prelude

$\version "2.18.2" \header { tagline = ##f } upper = \relative c'' { \clef treble \key e \minor \time 4/4 \tempo 4 = 63 \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"harpsichord" %% PRÉLUDE CBT I-10, BWV 855, mi mineur << { e2~ e8 fis32 e dis e e8.\prall dis32 e | fis1~ | fis16 e dis e fis e g fis a4~ a32 c b a g16 a32 fis g2~ g8 c16 b c8 e, fis2~ fis8 b~ b32[[ c b a] b[ g a b]] e,8~ } \\ { \repeat unfold 2 { g,8 r8 r4 } \repeat unfold 3 { a8 r8 r4 } b8 r8 r4 \repeat unfold 2 { b8 r8 r4 } a8 r8 r4 b8 r8 r4 g8 } \\ { \repeat unfold 2 { b8 s8 s4 } \repeat unfold 3 { c8 s8 s4 } fis8 s8 s4 \repeat unfold 2 { e8 s8 s4 } c8 s8 s4 d8 s8 s4 b8 } >> } lower = \relative c { \clef bass \key e \minor \time 4/4 \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"harpsichord" \repeat unfold 2 { e16 g a b a b a g } \repeat unfold 2 { e16 a b c b c b a } \repeat unfold 2 { dis,16 a' b c b c b a } \repeat unfold 2 { e16 g a b a b a g } e16 fis g a g a g fis d fis g a g a g fis d16 } \score { \new PianoStaff << \set PianoStaff.instrumentName = #"Prelude" \new Staff = "upper" \upper \new Staff = "lower" \lower >> \layout { \context { \Score \remove "Metronome_mark_engraver" \override SpacingSpanner.common-shortest-duration = #(ly:make-moment 1/3) } } \midi { } }$

Fugue

The fugue is in 2 voices and there are 42 measures.^[7]

BWV 855: opening bars of Fugue

$\version "2.18.2" \header { tagline = ##f } Dux = { e16_\markup{Dux} g b e dis e d e cis e c e | b e dis e ais, cis g fis g ais fis e } ContreSujet = { d8 b' r16 fis'16 g fis e d cis e d4~ d16 cis b ais b cis ais b } Comes = { b16^\markup{Comes} d fis b ais b a b gis b g b fis b ais b eis, gis d cis d e cis b } upper = \relative c' { \clef treble \key e \minor \time 3/4 \tempo 4 = 126 \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"harpsichord" %% FUGUE CBT I-10, BWV 855, mi mineur \Dux \ContreSujet cis16 fis, ais cis e ais, cis e g fis e g fis e d cis b ais gis fis d'4~ } lower = \relative c { \clef bass \key e \minor \time 3/4 \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"harpsichord" R2.*2 \Comes ais8 fis' r16 fis'16 g fis e d cis e d4~ d16 cis b ais b cis a b } \score { \new PianoStaff << \set PianoStaff.instrumentName = #"Fugue" \new Staff = "upper" \upper \new Staff = "lower" \lower >> \layout { \context { \Score \remove "Metronome_mark_engraver" } } \midi { } }$

Siloti's arrangement of BWV 855a: Prelude in B minor

Prelude in B minor (4:26)

Siloti's transcription, performed by Felipe Sarro

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Alexander Siloti made an arrangement the Prelude BWV 855a for piano, transposing it to B minor:

$\new PianoStaff << \new Staff { \time 4/4 \tempo 2=50 \clef treble \key b \minor \relative c'' { % funky repeat necessitated by the markup b16^\markup { \italic "sempre legato" } \repeat unfold 2 { d e fis e fis e d } \alternative { { b } { } } | \repeat unfold 2 { b e fis g fis g fis e } | } } \new Dynamics { s1\p\< | s1\! | } \new Staff { \clef bass \key b \minor << \relative c' { \voiceOne b2\sustainOn d\sustainOff\sustainOn | cis1\sustainOff\sustainOn | } \new Voice { \voiceTwo \chordmode { b,,4:m\arpeggio r <fis b>4\arpeggio r e,:m/b\arpeggio r r2 | } } >> } >>$

This arrangement has been described as "perhaps Siloti's most tender and perfect" transcription.^[8] It transposes Bach's original down from the original E minor into B minor, with the steady sixteenth note figuration that was originally given by Bach to the left hand being instead assigned to the right hand. Siloti also adds a repeat of the entire work, in order to allow for a change of voicing where the melody in the left hand is emphasized.^[8] In the published score, above, the chords in the left hand are arpeggiated; however, according to Siloti's daughter Kyriena (to whom the work was dedicated^[8]), he would omit the arpeggiation on the first pass and restore it on the repeat in order to heighten the effect of the left-hand melody.^[8] It has been performed by many pianists, most famously Emil Gilels.^[8]

The date of the arrangement is uncertain: it was first published by A. Gutheil of Moscow,^[9] and was performed by Siloti in public for the "first time" (according to an announcement in the Manchester Guardian) in February 1912.^[10]

References

^ Work 01004 at Bach Digital website
^ (BWV^2a) Alfred Dürr, Yoshitake Kobayashi (eds.), Kirsten Beißwenger. Bach Werke Verzeichnis: Kleine Ausgabe, nach der von Wolfgang Schmieder vorgelegten 2. Ausgabe. Preface in English and German. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1998. ISBN 3765102490 - ISBN 978-3765102493. pp. 375–376
^ Alfred Dürr, editor. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I (NBA V/6.1), Bärenreiter, 1989. pp. 170–173 (Critical commentary p. 340)
^ Bach Digital Work No. 01005 at www.bachdigital.de
^ "The Well-Tempered Clavier I No. 10 in E Minor". Netherlands Bach Society. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ BWV 855 The Well-Tempered Clavier Part I Praeludium X at MuseScore website
^ BWV 855 The Well-Tempered Clavier Part I Fuga X at MuseScore website
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Barber, Charles (2004), "The Transcriptions", The Alexander Siloti Collection: Editions, Transcriptions and Arrangements for Piano Solo, Carl Fischer, L.L.C., pp. 11–13, ISBN 0-8258-4730-3
^ Barber, Charles (2002). Lost in the Stars: The Forgotten Musical Life of Alexander Siloti. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 369. ISBN 9780810841086.
^ "The Hallé Concerts: Fifty Fourth Season, 1911–12: Eighteenth Concert Thursday Next [advertisement]". Manchester Guardian (20454): 1. 1912-02-27.

External links

[1] Work 01004 at Bach Digital website

[2] (BWV^2a) Alfred Dürr, Yoshitake Kobayashi (eds.), Kirsten Beißwenger. Bach Werke Verzeichnis: Kleine Ausgabe, nach der von Wolfgang Schmieder vorgelegten 2. Ausgabe. Preface in English and German. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1998. ISBN 3765102490 - ISBN 978-3765102493. pp. 375–376

[3] Alfred Dürr, editor. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I (NBA V/6.1), Bärenreiter, 1989. pp. 170–173 (Critical commentary p. 340)

[BDW1005-4] Bach Digital Work No. 01005 at www.bachdigital.de

[5] "The Well-Tempered Clavier I No. 10 in E Minor". Netherlands Bach Society. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

[6] BWV 855 The Well-Tempered Clavier Part I Praeludium X at MuseScore website

[7] BWV 855 The Well-Tempered Clavier Part I Fuga X at MuseScore website

[barber-8] Barber, Charles (2004), "The Transcriptions", The Alexander Siloti Collection: Editions, Transcriptions and Arrangements for Piano Solo, Carl Fischer, L.L.C., pp. 11–13, ISBN 0-8258-4730-3

[9] Barber, Charles (2002). Lost in the Stars: The Forgotten Musical Life of Alexander Siloti. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 369. ISBN 9780810841086.

[10] "The Hallé Concerts: Fifty Fourth Season, 1911–12: Eighteenth Concert Thursday Next [advertisement]". Manchester Guardian (20454): 1. 1912-02-27.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

v t e Compositions for organ, keyboard and lute by Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ	Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful) Sonatas, BWV 525–530 Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 531 Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548 Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful) Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (doubtful) Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fantasia ("Pièce d'Orgue") in G major, BWV 572 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Concertos, BWV 592–597 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 Chorale partita Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768 Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769 Neumeister chorales, BWV 1090–1120 Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 1128
Keyboard	Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772–801 English Suites, BWV 806–811 French Suites, BWV 812–817 Partitas, BWV 825–830 No. 2 No. 4 No. 6 Overture in the French style, BWV 831 Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 Book 1 No. 1 in C major No. 2 in C minor No. 3 in C♯ major No. 4 in C♯ minor No. 7 in E♭ major No. 10 in E minor No. 16 in G minor No. 21 in B♭ major No. 22 in B♭ minor Book 2 No. 1 in C major No. 2 in C minor No. 3 in C♯ major No. 4 in C♯ minor No. 5 in D major No. 6 in D minor No. 12 in F minor No. 13 in F♯ major No. 18 in G♯ minor No. 22 in B♭ minor No. 24 in B minor Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 906 Toccatas, BWV 910–916 Six Little Preludes, BWV 933–938 Italian Concerto Harpsichord solo concertos Goldberg Variations discography Gould recording Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother
Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 Bourrée Suite in C minor, BWV 997 Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000
Mixed collections	Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552, Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689, Duets, BWV 802–805 Concerto transcriptions, BWV 592–596 and 972–987 Klavierbüchlein W. F. Bach Notebook A. M. Bach Twelve Little Preludes
List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach List of concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach

Authority control databases
National	Germany France BnF data
Other	MusicBrainz work