Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532

Johann Sebastian Bach, the composer of Prelude and Fugue in D major

Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D major (BWV 532) is a prelude and fugue written for the organ in c.1710,^[1] and has an approximate duration of 11½ minutes.^[2]

Composition

Like most of Bach's organ compositions, this piece was written during his tenure in Weimar between 1709 and 1717.^[3] Many of his greatest and most well known organ works were written during this period, including, for example, the Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566.^[4] The composer was residing in Weimar after being hired by the ruling duke of Weimar, Wilhelm Ernst, in 1709 as an organist and member of the court orchestra; he was particularly encouraged to make use of his unique talents with the organ by the duke.^[5] Indeed, his fame on the instrument grew and he was visited by many students of the organ to hear him play and to try to learn from his technique.^[6] The Prelude and Fugue in D major was probably composed in 1710, although this is not certain. However, it was definitely written before Bach codified the clear two-section prelude and fugue in the form of what is used in the The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893, which was composed in 1722.^[7] This is because BWV 532 features a lengthy, complex, self-contained fugue preceded by a multisectional prelude.^[3]

Description

The piece is in two sections: a prelude and a fugue. Both the sections are in D major but, to begin with, there is no tempo marking given on either section. Both pieces are in 4/4.

Analysis

Prelude

The prelude commences with a semi-quaver scale from the pedals, and then the manuals begin with an intricate quaver pattern between the hands. Another run from the pedals is then followed by a continuation of the quaver pattern from the right-hand. The quaver pattern then repeats one octave lower. The pedals then play arpeggiated patterns which begin a repeated theme and slow down throughout. This lasts for four bars. A sustained pedal then accompanies the manuals, which have a dotted quaver, semi-quaver rhythm. This then turns into a repeated G♯, B demi-semi-quaver rhythm. This then slows to a series of repeated cadences.

A new phrase then begins with an ascending scale in the manuals leading up to a large D major chord. A new tempo is then introduced: Alla breve, and then a large phrase is introduced with a very polyphonic texture and a prominent tune. A section then starts with chords played in the manuals and the quavers played in the pedals. This continues for another long period of time until the left hand takes the tune and the right hand plays the quavers.

When this section finishes, a new tempo of Adagio begins. A new theme then arrives with slow quavers on the lower manual and pedal and ascending scales in the upper manual. The prelude then concludes with a slow theme, on broken arpeggios and some slow, elongated final chords.

Fugue

The subject of this fugue is eight measures long and consist of tight figurations encompassing an entire octave. Bach takes this subject firstly through the relative minor and then the mediant minor, and then to the minor harmony of the leading tone and the major harmony on the supertonic. After this progression we enter an episode with a flurry of figures on the dominant and then a full entry of the subject on the tonic that works to resolve the preceding tension so well that the eventual coda almost has the nature of an afterthought.

The Fugue's subject, showing a turn-like motif followed by a falling sequence

Transcriptions

Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532

Transcribed for piano by Eugen d'Albert, performed by Martha Goldstein.

Excerpt of Prelude

Performed by Manuel Doormann (organ)

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This work has been transcribed for solo piano by Ferruccio Busoni as BV B 20 in 1888, and by Eugen d'Albert in 1893.

References

↑ "Classical Archives". Classical Archives. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
↑ "Decca Records Publication No. 443 485-2". Missing or empty |url= (help)
1 2 "Classical Archives". Classical Archives. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
↑ "Classical Archives". Classical Archives. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
↑ "JSBach.org". jsbach.org. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
↑ "Baroque music.org". Baroque music.org. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
↑ "qub.ac.uk". qub.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2010.

External links

Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
Free download of BWV 532 recorded by James Kibbie on the 1755 Gottfried Silbermann/Zacharias Hildebrandt organ in the Katholische Hofkirche, Dresden, Germany
Video of "Fugue in D major" from BWV 532, performed by Timothy Coriddi

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 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 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 Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Concerto transcriptions, BWV 592–596 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 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 Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552 / Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689 / Duets, BWV 802–805
Keyboard	Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue English Suites French Suites Goldberg Variations (discography, Gould recording) Inventions and Sinfonias Italian Concerto Overture in the French style Partitas for Keyboard (No. 4, No. 6) Prelude in E minor, BWV 855a Six Little Preludes The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 (Preludes and Fugues in Book I: C major, BWV 846, C minor, BWV 847, C♯ minor, BWV 849, G minor, BWV 861; in Book II: C major, BWV 870, F minor, BWV 881) Concerto transcriptions, BWV 972–987 Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 (Bourrée) Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000
List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach

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