Explanation of clefs which begins the Klavierbüchlein, in Johann Sebastian's hand
Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (Bach's original spelling: Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach) is a collection of keyboard music compiled by the GermanBaroquecomposerJohann Sebastian Bach for his eldest son Wilhelm Friedemann. It is frequently referred to simply as Klavierbüchlein.
Johann Sebastian began compiling the collection in 1720. Most of the pieces included are better known as parts of The Well-Tempered Clavier and the Inventions and Sinfonias. The authorship of most other works is debated: particularly the famous Little PreludesBWV 924–932 are sometimes attributed to Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.
Contents
A guide to ornaments, written in Bach's hand and included in the KlavierbüchleinClose-up of the first bar of Applicatio in C major, BWV 994. Bach's fingering marks are clearly visible
Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach No. 23, Praeludium [No. 10] is an incomplete copy (35 bars), partly in the handwriting of W. F. Bach and partly in the handwriting of J. S. Bach, of the Prelude of The Well-Tempered Clavier book I, No. 8 (BWV 853)
The book begins with a preface that contains an explanation of clefs and a guide to playing ornaments. The pieces of the collection are arranged by complexity, beginning with the most simple works. Of these, Applicatio in C major BWV 994 and Prelude in G minor BWV 930 are particularly notable because they are the only surviving works that feature the fingering in Bach's own hand (the only other Bach piece with fingering marks is the C major Prelude BWV 870a, however, the marks are not in Bach's hand). They were probably added by Johann Caspar Vogler, Bach's pupil and successor at Weimar.[1]
Here is a complete list of pieces, in order of appearance in the manuscript, with the numbering as in most score editions:[2]
BWV 847/1, Praeludium 2 in C minor (Prelude in C minor from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 851/1, Praeludium 3 in D minor (Prelude in D minor from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 850/1, Praeludium 4 in D major (Prelude in D major from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, incomplete)
BWV 855a, Praeludium 5 in E minor. Alternative version of the prelude from Prelude and Fugue in E minor from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier. This was later arranged for pianoforte by Alexander Siloti and transposed into a Prelude in B minor.
BWV 854/1, Praeludium 6 in E major (Prelude in E major from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 856/1, Praeludium 7 in F major (Prelude in F major from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 848/1, Praeludium [8] in C♯ major (Prelude in C♯ major from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 849/1, Praeludium [9] in C♯ minor (Prelude in C♯ minor from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 853/1, Praeludium [10] in E♭ minor (Prelude in E♭ minor from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
BWV 857/1, Praeludium [11] in F minor (Prelude in F minor from the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
Partita di Signore Steltzeln, harpsichord suite by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel. Four movements: I. Ouverture; II. Air Italien; III. Bourrée; IV. Minuet; With an additional movement composed by Bach: V. Menuet – Trio, BWV 929
