Masterpieces of Western Music

Humanities W1123 · Prof. Michael Thaddeus

PAPER #1: ON A WORK OF BACH

Link to The Well-Tempered Clavier
performed by Robert Levin on harpsichord, clavichord, and organ

Choose any of the 48 Preludes & Fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier (24 in Book I, 24 in Book II). You might wish to listen to a few before finding one that you like and have something interesting to say about.

Here is the link to the Robert Levin recording via Columbia University Library.

You also might want to compare Robert Levin's performance with Angela Hewitt's performance on piano. It could be much faster or slower, as Bach did not write tempo markings for these pieces.

The link to the Liner Notes in the upper left-hand corner of each might help start you off. Be sure to cite them if you use them.

Warning about the Levin recordings online: All of the Preludes and Fugues are unfortunately mislabeled and misordered. Consult the table below and be sure to cite the correct BWV (catalogue number for all of Bach's many works).

Book I				Book II
Wrong BWV	Right BWV	Number	Key	Wrong BWV	Right BWV	Number	Key
846	858	13	F♯ major	870	882	13	F♯ major
847	859	14	F♯ minor	871	883	14	F♯ minor
848	860	15	G major	872	884	15	G major
849	861	16	G minor	873	885	16	G minor
850	862	17	A♭ major	874	886	17	A♭ major
851	863	18	G♯ minor	875	887	18	G♯ minor
852	864	19	A major	876	888	19	A major
853	865	20	A minor	877	889	20	A minor
854	866	21	B♭ major	878	890	21	B♭ major
855	867	22	B♭ minor	879	891	22	B♭ minor
856	868	23	B major	880	892	23	B major
857	869	24	B minor	881	893	24	B minor
858	846	1	C major	882	870	1	C major
859	847	2	C minor	883	871	2	C minor
860	848	3	C♯ major	884	872	3	C♯ major
861	849	4	C♯ minor	885	873	4	C♯ minor
862	850	5	D major	886	874	5	D major
863	851	6	D minor	887	875	6	D minor
864	852	7	E♭ major	888	876	7	E♭ major
865	853	8	E♭ minor	889	877	8	D♯ minor
866	854	9	E major	890	878	9	E major
867	855	10	E minor	891	879	10	E minor
868	856	11	F major	892	880	11	F major
869	857	12	F minor	893	881	12	F minor