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Johann Sebastian Bach

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893

c. 1739–1742

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Total duration: 143'

The collection exists in two primary versions: the first (denoted A in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe) based on the original London manuscript and the second (denoted B) preserved in copies by Johann Christoph Altnickol. The versions are broadly similar; the Altnickol (B) version is given on these pages.

Some individual preludes and fugues also exist in further versions; these are described below.

In BWV1,2,2a, the main collection is identified under BWV 870–893, with the London version of the prelude of no. 1 denoted separately as BWV 870b, and earlier versions listed under BWV 870a, 872a and 875a. In BWV3, the main collection is identified under BWV 870.2–893.2, with earlier versions listed under BWV 870.1, 872.1, 875.1 and 876.1.

Recommended editions

1. C major, BWV 870, Prelude (first final version)

Unlike the rest of the collection, the preludes of the first London (A) and second Altnickol (B) versions are quite different: both are therefore given here. In the Schmieder catalogue, these versions are identified under BWV1,2,2a 870b (London version) and BWV1,2,2a 870 (Altnickol version); BWV3 lists both under 870.2.

The prelude and fugue also exist in an earlier version (BWV1,2,2a 870a; BWV3 870.1) as part of a collection of five preludes and fughettas (alongside BWV 899, 900, 901 and 902).

Finally, the Neue Bach-Ausgabe also gives three further versions that are not given here: the earlier pair in an embellished version according to a copy by Johann Caspar Vogler, the London version of the prelude according to a copy by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, and a version of the prelude taken between the London and Antnickol versions.

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 1. C major, BWV 870, Prelude (first final version)

1. C major, BWV 870, Prelude (second final version)

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 1. C major, BWV 870, Prelude (second final version)

1. C major, BWV 870, Prelude (earlier version)

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 2.5

1. C major, BWV 870, Prelude (earlier version)

1. C major, BWV 870, Fugue

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 1. C major, BWV 870, Fugue

1. C major, BWV 870, Fugue (earlier version)

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3

1. C major, BWV 870, Fugue (earlier version)

2. C minor, BWV 871, Prelude

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 2. C minor, BWV 871, Prelude

2. C minor, BWV 871, Fugue

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 2. C minor, BWV 871, Fugue

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Prelude

The prelude exists in an earlier version, and the fugue in two earlier versions according to copies by Johann Friedrich Agricola (together BWV1,2,2a 872a/1, although BWV1,2 omit the second earlier version of the fugue; BWV3 872.1).

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Prelude The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Prelude

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Prelude (earlier version)

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 2.5

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Prelude (earlier version) 3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Prelude (earlier version)

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Fugue

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Fugue

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Fugue (first earlier version)

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 2.5

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Fugue (first earlier version)

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Fugue (second earlier version)

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

3. C-sharp major, BWV 872, Fugue (second earlier version)

4. C-sharp minor, BWV 873, Prelude

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 4. C-sharp minor, BWV 873, Prelude

4. C-sharp minor, BWV 873, Fugue

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 4. C-sharp minor, BWV 873, Fugue

5. D major, BWV 874, Prelude

Duration: 5' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 5. D major, BWV 874, Prelude

5. D major, BWV 874, Fugue

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 5. D major, BWV 874, Fugue

6. D minor, BWV 875, Prelude

This prelude exists in an earlier version (BWV1,2,2a 875a; BWV3 875.1) that is given below. The Neue Bach-Ausgabe also gives a further version taken between the London (A) and Antnickol (B) versions.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 6. D minor, BWV 875, Prelude

6. D minor, BWV 875, Prelude (earlier version)

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 2

6. D minor, BWV 875, Prelude (earlier version)

6. D minor, BWV 875, Fugue

The Neue Bach-Ausgabe gives an earlier version of this fugue according to a copy by Johann Friedrich Agricola.

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 6. D minor, BWV 875, Fugue

7. E-flat major, BWV 876, Prelude

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 7. E-flat major, BWV 876, Prelude

7. E-flat major, BWV 876, Fugue

The Neue Bach-Ausgabe gives an earlier version of this fugue, a fughetta in D major (BWV3 876.1), according to a copy by Johann Friedrich Agricola.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 7. E-flat major, BWV 876, Fugue

8. D-sharp minor, BWV 877, Prelude

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 8. D-sharp minor, BWV 877, Prelude

8. D-sharp minor, BWV 877, Fugue

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 8. D-sharp minor, BWV 877, Fugue

9. E major, BWV 878, Prelude

Duration: 4' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 9. E major, BWV 878, Prelude

9. E major, BWV 878, Fugue

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 9. E major, BWV 878, Fugue

10. E minor, BWV 879, Prelude

Duration: 3' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 10. E minor, BWV 879, Prelude

10. E minor, BWV 879, Fugue

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 10. E minor, BWV 879, Fugue

11. F major, BWV 880, Prelude

Duration: 3' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 11. F major, BWV 880, Prelude

11. F major, BWV 880, Fugue

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 11. F major, BWV 880, Fugue

12. F minor, BWV 881, Prelude

Duration: 4' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 12. F minor, BWV 881, Prelude

12. F minor, BWV 881, Fugue

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 12. F minor, BWV 881, Fugue

13. F-sharp major, BWV 882, Prelude

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 13. F-sharp major, BWV 882, Prelude

13. F-sharp major, BWV 882, Fugue

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 13. F-sharp major, BWV 882, Fugue

14. F-sharp minor, BWV 883, Prelude

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 14. F-sharp minor, BWV 883, Prelude

14. F-sharp minor, BWV 883, Fugue

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 14. F-sharp minor, BWV 883, Fugue

15. G major, BWV 884, Prelude

The Neue Bach-Ausgabe gives a further, earlier version of this prelude.

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 15. G major, BWV 884, Prelude

15. G major, BWV 884, Fugue

This is a later version of the fughetta in G major (BWV 902/2).

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 15. G major, BWV 884, Fugue

16. G minor, BWV 885, Prelude

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 16. G minor, BWV 885, Prelude

16. G minor, BWV 885, Fugue

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 4

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 16. G minor, BWV 885, Fugue

17. A-flat major, BWV 886, Prelude

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 17. A-flat major, BWV 886, Prelude

17. A-flat major, BWV 886, Fugue

This is a later version of the fughetta in F major (BWV 901/2). The Neue Bach-Ausgabe gives two copies of the London (A) version according to separate manuscripts.

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 17. A-flat major, BWV 886, Fugue

18. G-sharp minor, BWV 887, Prelude

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 18. G-sharp minor, BWV 887, Prelude

18. G-sharp minor, BWV 887, Fugue

Duration: 4' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 18. G-sharp minor, BWV 887, Fugue

19. A major, BWV 888, Prelude

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 19. A major, BWV 888, Prelude

19. A major, BWV 888, Fugue

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 19. A major, BWV 888, Fugue

20. A minor, BWV 889, Prelude

Duration: 5'

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 20. A minor, BWV 889, Prelude

20. A minor, BWV 889, Fugue

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 20. A minor, BWV 889, Fugue

21. B-flat major, BWV 890, Prelude

Duration: 7'

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 21. B-flat major, BWV 890, Prelude

21. B-flat major, BWV 890, Fugue

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 21. B-flat major, BWV 890, Fugue

22. B-flat minor, BWV 891, Prelude

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 22. B-flat minor, BWV 891, Prelude

22. B-flat minor, BWV 891, Fugue

Duration: 5'

Difficulty: 4

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 22. B-flat minor, BWV 891, Fugue

23. B major, BWV 892, Prelude

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 23. B major, BWV 892, Prelude

23. B major, BWV 892, Fugue

Duration: 3' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 23. B major, BWV 892, Fugue

24. B minor, BWV 893, Prelude

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 24. B minor, BWV 893, Prelude

24. B minor, BWV 893, Fugue

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV 870–893; 24. B minor, BWV 893, Fugue

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