Fugue No. 1 in C major, BWV 846 (WTC I)

History

Fugue No. 1 in C major, BWV 846 (WTC I) belongs to the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier. Bach's collection fair copy is dated 1722. For many years its life was in manuscript: around 1800, publishers in Zurich, Bonn and Vienna/Leipzig brought competing editions into print. That long journey from manuscript to publication is part of this piece's wider history.

Sources

• blog.henle.de

What to listen for

1. 1

   Entries arrive in different registers

   The middle opening is joined by upper and lower related entries. Hear each new arrival within the continuing line.

2. 2

   Moving responses overlap

   Related figures overlap through changing responses and ornaments. Listen for separate strands rather than one melody with a uniform background.

3. 3

   Lower motion prepares a held foundation

   The lower line moves toward the final low support as upper figures continue overlapping. Follow that change beneath the active voices.

4. 4

   A long low C anchors the close

   Low C is held through the closing region while upper lines continue independently. Hear their movement settle into the last held chord.

How to practise it

Stepwise opening with a short turn; long arrival and much shorter neighbours.

1. Sing the four-note ascent first, then fit the short returning turn into its place without accelerating the whole opening.
2. Separate the long arrival from its brief neighbours by counting the subdivision steadily, rather than making every pitch equally long.

How hard is it

About this piece

Licence

Public Domain

Source

mutopiaproject.org

More by Johann Sebastian Bach

1. 1Prelude in C major, BWV 846Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
2. 2Two-Part Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
3. 3Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. PrestoLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro