Topic: New Bach Video Fugue n 22 in B-Flat minor BWV 867 WTC1
Dear Friends,
This week, on our journey to discover WTC1, we meet the Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor.
Bach Fugue n 22 in B Flat minor BWV 867 (à 5) bears the same earnest stamp, but treats measure and metre with greater freedom almost than any other piece in the "Well -tempered Clavier" (and that is saying much). In my edition of the work I have attempted fully to expound the metrical contents; and this has resulted in a frequent change from 4/2 and '3/2 to 3/1 measure, which last finally prevails.
As in the C minor Fugue (I. 2.) 3/2 measure appears twice in episode; 3/1 measure arises through enrichment of the theme. If we consider as beyond dispute the fact that the situation of a theme in a bar (its metrical nature) constitutes a special element of its essence, it follows that an intelligent interpreter will always seek for, and find its points of stress in the same place; this is especially true in the fugue under notice, of the first minim of the theme, which, without doubt, bears the stronger accent; and indeed in Bach's notation, with exception of two strettos, it always appears at the beginning of the measure in C-time, strictly maintained throughout.
But also for certain close-formations, which signify specialpoints of rest of the tone movement, we demand absolute definite metrical relationship (point of stress of an accented measure [4., 8]). Occasional effects resulting from conflicting demands must be thoroughly grasped if one wishes to have firm points of support in interpreting the piece.
The theme descends solemnly from the tonic to the dominant, then leaps upward as far as the upper sixth of the tonic, only to fall down from it to the third, and afterwards rise from the second to the fifth.
occasionally combined with its inversion.
Enjoy your listening.
My actual setting is:
Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage Video Recording Samsung Galaxy A54.
VST: Hamburg Steinway D Pianoteq Stage 8.4.0