BACH -- Well-Tempered Clavier (Book I), Prelude No. 1 in C

Johann Sebastian Bach's immortal opening prelude from the hugely influential Well-Tempered Clavier (Das Wohltemperirte Clavier).

I think this piece, in particular, is a stunning display of Bach's genius. Using utterly simple means (almost entirely diatonic CM, an unchanging figuration, no real melody (save the "perceived" melodies that arise in the arpeggiated voices and the bass line)), he composed a little piece that never ceases to move the soul.

Please note, I'm not going for a particularly "period" interpretation here.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bach
• johann
• sebastian
• JS
• well
• tempered
• clavier
• keyboard
• book
• prelude
• major
• wohltemperirte
• piano
• baroque

[Craptron2000]

I purposely searched this song to hear this exactly as you played it. I did not like the professional versions which are actually ranked much higher than your version. They felt either rushed or played staccato style. You let the notes flow and hang in the air.

[ChiChithePygo]

@Craptron2000 Thanks very much, those are kind words.

[hrprada]

Ive been scanning YouTube for this particular piece and your performance is much better than most of the others. It's filled with passion !

[ChiChithePygo]

@hrprada Thanks!

[qwhisdjnzdz]

Nice work man. Beautiful piece, one of the better known Bach evergreens... I would like to make one comment, the tempo is not very stable. IMHO baroque music, and in particular this type of two-part etudes, should be played with metronome precision. But that's just my opinion. Keep up the good work

[ChiChithePygo]

I hear you---I used to feel the same way. Now, I think that a metronomic performance lacking dynamic contrast should be advertised as period specific, but not necessarily the end all be all.

I've never seen a reason why late Baroque music needs to be so mechanical. Sure, the composers have left us very straightforward scores, but it was a time of very different performance practice. Improvisation wasn't just expected, it was often required! Maybe a little flexibility's not a bad thing.

Thanks!

[Timwhaley0702]

Love you man

[UnifiedPerfection]

Very impressive. I want a Piano :/

[Rheostatik]

@Craptron2000 That's because professionals are playing it how it would have been played when Bach wrote it, 250 years ago. The piano hadn't even been invented yet. Amateurs tend to romanticize the piece, which is fine, but not what a professional is going after.

[random1970]

Love this piece and love how you play it. Our little 5 month girl falls asleep to this!