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Baroque · prelude

Prelude No. 2 in C minor, BWV 871 (WTC II)

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

An invention-like conversation inside the later collection. Prelude No. 2 in C minor, BWV 871 (WTC II) is a prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • prelude
  • Baroque
  • Key of C minor
  • stormy

Also known as Das Wohltemperierte Clavier II, Praeludium II.

History

The Netherlands Bach Society connects this Prelude's two-part exchanges with Bach's C-major Invention, BWV 772. Running figures and accompaniment trade roles, making teaching through musical dialogue part of its reference interpretation. This comparison concerns the individual Prelude, not its paired Fugue.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A compact cell reverses its roles

    A small upper cell receives a slower lower reply, then moves below a slower upper answer. Hear the same kind of figure in a different layer.

  2. Interlocking figures expand the first section

    Cross-staff lower figures join upper sequences and short cadential replies. Follow their continuity through the notation changes.

  3. A more insistent second entry

    Repeated upper-note figures and ornamented responses start the second repeated region. Hear their contrast with the compact opening cell.

  4. An inner reply meets a held upper strand

    A longer upper sound overlaps an active inner response near the close. Hear both layers settle into the final C-minor chord.

How to practise it

Staggered start and recurring paired arrivals; longer low pattern with quicker high movement.

  1. Practise the staggered opening as one continuous pulse, hearing the single attacks between the fuller arrival points rather than inserting pauses.
  2. Keep the low pattern at its longer spacing while the high pitches move twice as often, and make the returning low pitch a fresh attack rather than an unintended tie.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

Rhythmic interplay and contrapuntal movement require coordinated articulation and independent phrase direction.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Johann Sebastian Bach, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
The prelude gallery
Licence
Public Domain
Source
mutopiaproject.org

More by Johann Sebastian Bach

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

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Staggered start and recurring paired arrivals; longer low pattern with quicker high movement.

Practise it in PlayPiano