Prelude (Toccata) and fugue in E major, BWV 566
Encyclopedia
Prelude and Fugue in (C or) E major, BWV 566 is an organ work written by Johann Sebastian Bach
in 1708
. It comprises four sections and is an earlywork of Bach's.
Its form resembles the Preludes and Fugue
s of Buxtehude
. The first section alternates manual or pedal cadenzas with dense suspended chords. The second is a charming fughetta with much repetition following the circle of fifths. The third section is a brief flourish for manuals ends with an even briefer pedal cadenza punctuated with 9-voice chords. The fourth section is in 3/4 time, and is a second fuga with a rhythmic subject resembling the thema of the first fughetta.
Bach also wrote a transposed version of this in C major, to play on organs tuned in meantone where E major would sound discordant due to the organ's temperament. Various recordings of the C major version exist mainly on historic instruments, for example Ton Koopman
's recording on the Schnitger
organ in Hamburg's Jacobikirche
, and Marie-Claire Alain
's recording on the Silbermann
organ at Freiberg Cathedral
. Both have a high pitch leaving the "concert" pitch up to a tone higher than modern pitch, where the temperament is significantly unequal to merit playing it away from E major. Modern organs or those tuned to a more equal temperament do not have this need.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
in 1708
1708 in music
-Events:*Alessandro Scarlatti returns to Naples from Venice.*Johann Sebastian Bach becomes organist and concert-master at the Weimar court.*Arcangelo Corelli returns to Rome and joins the household of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni.-Published popular music:...
. It comprises four sections and is an earlywork of Bach's.
Its form resembles the Preludes and Fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
s of Buxtehude
Dieterich Buxtehude
Dieterich Buxtehude was a German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period. His organ works represent a central part of the standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed at recitals and in church services...
. The first section alternates manual or pedal cadenzas with dense suspended chords. The second is a charming fughetta with much repetition following the circle of fifths. The third section is a brief flourish for manuals ends with an even briefer pedal cadenza punctuated with 9-voice chords. The fourth section is in 3/4 time, and is a second fuga with a rhythmic subject resembling the thema of the first fughetta.
Bach also wrote a transposed version of this in C major, to play on organs tuned in meantone where E major would sound discordant due to the organ's temperament. Various recordings of the C major version exist mainly on historic instruments, for example Ton Koopman
Ton Koopman
Ton Koopman is a conductor, organist and harpsichordist.Koopman had a "classical education" and then studied the organ , harpsichord and musicology in Amsterdam...
's recording on the Schnitger
Arp Schnitger
Arp Schnitger was a highly influential German organ builder. He was primarily active in Northern Europe, especially the Netherlands and Germany, where a number of his instruments survive to the present day; his organs can also be found as far away as Portugal and Brazil.Notable examples still in...
organ in Hamburg's Jacobikirche
St. Jacobi, Hamburg
The St. Jacobi church is one of the five principal Lutheran churches of Hamburg, Germany. The church is located directly in the city center, has a 125 m tall tower and features a famous organ by Arp Schnitger from 1693. It is dedicated to St James the Greater and often incorrectly known in English...
, and Marie-Claire Alain
Marie-Claire Alain
Marie-Claire Alain is a French organist and organ teacher best known for her prolific recording career. She is particularly known for her ability to perform substantial works entirely from memory.-Background and education:...
's recording on the Silbermann
Gottfried Silbermann
Gottfried Silbermann was an influential German constructor of keyboard instruments. He built harpsichords, clavichords, organs, and fortepianos; his modern reputation rests mainly on the latter two.-Life:...
organ at Freiberg Cathedral
Freiberg Cathedral
The Freiberg Cathedral or Cathedral of St Mary is a Lutheran church in Freiberg, Saxony. It is called a cathedral in English even though it has never been the seat of a bishop.-History:...
. Both have a high pitch leaving the "concert" pitch up to a tone higher than modern pitch, where the temperament is significantly unequal to merit playing it away from E major. Modern organs or those tuned to a more equal temperament do not have this need.
External links
- Free download of BWV 566 recorded by James KibbieJames KibbieJames Kibbie is an American concert organist, recording artist and pedagogue. He is Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan.- Biography :James Kibbie was born in 1949 in Vinton, Iowa, USA...
on the 1736 Erasmus Bielfeldt organ in St. Wilhadi, Stade, Germany - A few notes about temperament and the performance of BWV 566