Six Little Preludes (Bach)
The Six Little Preludes (BWV 933-938) are a group of preludes written by the composer Johann Sebastian Bach for harpsichord. They are all short, pedagogical efforts written in or around the period of 1717–1720, but they were not published until 1802. These pieces are all short but require a strong understanding of technique.[citation needed] This is one of a series of 18 preludes[which?] Bach sporadically produced around 1717–1720, primarily for instructive purposes, and were not intended for public performance.[clarification needed][citation needed]
Little Prelude in C major, BWV 933
The C major prelude consists of two brief sections, repeated as a pair, followed by a variation on each section, again repeated as a pair.[citation needed][1] The first segment demands complete independence of the right and left hands, with the left hand providing a busy accompaniment.[citation needed] The bass material becomes more rudimentary in the second segment, as the treble adopts f of this prelude makes minimal changes to the basic material, mainly brightening it by lifting the slightly altered melody into a higher register.[citation needed]
Little Prelude in C minor, BWV 934
This C minor effort is similar to a minuet.[citation needed][2] It features a lively angular theme.[citation needed] The theme and second subject are played through twice and vary considerably on their third appearance.[citation needed] This piece generally lasts just over a minute.[citation needed]
Little Prelude in D minor, BWV 935
The Little Prelude in D minor contains features that are similar to a two-part invention.[citation needed][3] This work generally lasts about a minute and a half.[citation needed]
Little Prelude in D major, BWV 936
This Prelude has features associated with a trio sonata: it contains two upper lines and a roving bass part underpinning them.[citation needed][4] The work opens with a lively theme.[citation needed] It is played through twice, then varied on its third appearance, showing much development.[citation needed]
Little Prelude in E major, BWV 937
Unlike Prelude in E minor, this piece is interpreting a more lively scenario indicating that it is major, though Bach's frequently used mordents are not as common in this prelude.[citation needed]
Little Prelude in E minor, BWV 938
This E minor prelude contains features similar to the composer's inventions.[citation needed][5] Bach follows a pattern used in many of the pieces in the set, in presenting the main thematic material twice in more or less the same form, then developing it.[citation needed] This piece is approximately one-and-a-half minutes long.
References
- ^ BWV 933 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 1, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
- ^ BWV 934 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 2, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
- ^ BWV 935 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 3, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
- ^ BWV 936 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 4, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
- ^ BWV 938 in The Mutopia Project: Praeludium Nr. 6, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
External links
- {BWV 934 video https://youtube.com/watch?v=vhxOODKpXmA}
- 6 Kleine Präludien: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project