Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852

Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852, is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the seventh prelude and fugue in the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer.

Analysis

Prelude

Prelude, played by Kimiko Douglass-Ishizaka

The prelude is 70 measures long, and consists of three sections:^[1]

The first section begins from the first measure and lasts until m. 10. It is a short toccata,^[2] mainly made of energetic semiquaver movements, with the ending two measures (m. 8 and 9) made of demisemiquavers.^[3] It establishes the tonic key (E♭), presents theme I, and ends on the dominant (B♭).^[1]
The second section starts at m. 10, and ends at m. 25. It is a chorale, in the style of four-part harmony, introducing theme II.^[4]
The third section starts at m. 25 and lasts until the end. It is a four-voice double fugue, and the first subject is introduced in the alto (theme I extended), second subject in the bass (theme II).^[1]^[5] This section is three times as long as the other two sections together.^[6]

This prelude is unique among the 48 preludes of The Well-Tempered Clavier, because it already includes a fully developed fugue. It may originally have been conceived for organ (the early version has fewer semiquavers in the bass of the second section than the final one).^[7]^[a]

Fugue

Fugue, played by Kimiko Douglass-Ishizaka

The fugue is 37 measures long and has three voices.^[1]

Notes

^ Harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder also supports this idea. He cites the example that the bass D in m. 64 is only a semiquaver, which he considers too short, and awkward. In the organ, this D can be sustained because of the pedal, but with only a keyboard (e.g. in the harpsichord), the tenor has to move on and the bass D has to be released again.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.7 in E♭ major, BWV 852 Analysis". Tonic Chord. 2018-05-05. Archived from the original on 2024-05-31.
^ Belder (2021), 4:11
^ Hugo (1893), pp. 45–46
^ Belder (2021), 4:40
^ "The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852 - Animated Score and Analysis". YouTube. 2019-09-24.
^ Hugo (1893), pp. 45
^ Ledbetter (2002), p. 174
^ Belder (2021), 6:00

Sources

Riemann, Hugo (1893). Analysis of J.S. Bach's Wohltemperirtes clavier (48 preludes & fugues). Vol. 1. Translated by Shedlock, John South. London: Augener & Co.
Belder, Pieter-Jan (2021-02-14), Belder on Bach WTC I Prelude and fugue no. 7 in E-flat major BWV 852 | Netherlands Bach Society, Netherlands Bach Society – via YouTube{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
Ledbetter, David (2002). Bach's Well-tempered Clavier: The 48 Preludes and Fugues. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09707-8. JSTOR j.ctt1npnnf.

[9] Harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder also supports this idea. He cites the example that the bass D in m. 64 is only a semiquaver, which he considers too short, and awkward. In the organ, this D can be sustained because of the pedal, but with only a keyboard (e.g. in the harpsichord), the tenor has to move on and the bass D has to be released again.^[8]

[TC-1] "Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.7 in E♭ major, BWV 852 Analysis". Tonic Chord. 2018-05-05. Archived from the original on 2024-05-31.

[2] Belder (2021), 4:11

[3] Hugo (1893), pp. 45–46

[4] Belder (2021), 4:40

[5] "The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852 - Animated Score and Analysis". YouTube. 2019-09-24.

[6] Hugo (1893), pp. 45

[7] Ledbetter (2002), p. 174

[8] Belder (2021), 6:00

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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

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