Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 871 explained

The Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 871, is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach.^[1] It is the second prelude and fugue in the second book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. It was composed in 1738.^[2]

Prelude

The prelude, in the key of C minor, has 28 measures and is in the time signature of . The prelude is not heavily ornamented, but it does contain a few trills. The piece is mainly made up of sixteenth notes and eighth notes and a few quarter notes and half notes.^[3]

Fugue

The fugue, also in the key of C minor, has 28 measures and the time signature is . It consists of half notes, quarter notes, dotted eighth notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and some 32nd notes. The fugue is not heavily ornamented, and it ends in a Picardy third.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Schulenberg, D. . The Keyboard Music of J.S. Bach . Taylor and Francis . Hoboken . 2013 . 978-1-136-09146-9 . 850161385 . 4 December 2018 . 246.
2. Web site: BWV871 . jsbach.org.
3. Web site: Prélude No. 2 BWV 871 in C Minor . MuseScore . MuseScore.com.
4. Web site: Fugue No. 2 BWV 871 in C Minor . MuseScore . MuseScore.com.