J. S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: In-Depth Analysis and Interpretation, volume I [Paperback]

Siglind Bruhn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1993

Volume I deals with the preludes and fugues WTC I, nos. 1-6 and WTC II, nos. 1-6, i.e. with the works in C major, c minor, C# major, c# minor, D major, and d minor.

This comprehensive, in-depth work book on Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier should be part of every pianist's, piano teacher's, and advanced piano amateur's library.

The book is part I of a four-volume work that consists of various elements. A general Introduction covers topics like the origins of the WTC, the "well-tempered" scale, the clavier at Bach's time, the history of the prelude and the background of fugue composition. This is followed by a catalogue of very specific Questions Regarding a Prelude and Questions Regarding a Fugue, which the reader is urged to answer for him- or herself with regard to a particular prelude and fugue. The scope of the questions, their possible implications and the terms used are explained step by step in a section entitled Additional Information. The main body of the book, under the heading "Model Answers," contains in-depth investigations into the structure, material, performance practice and interpretation of each of the 48 preludes and fugues. These individual chapters, dedicated to one prelude+fugue each, are illustrated with music excerpts, diagrams, and graphic representations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Siglind Bruhn, born in Hamburg, Germany, is a musicologist, concert pianist, and interdisciplinary researcher. Since 1993, having resigned from university teaching to devote herself fully to research and writing, she has lived in Ann Arbor, affiliated with the University of Michigan as a Life Research Associate at the Institute for the Humanities. Prior to coming to the United States, she was the Director of Studies for music in professional and continuing education at the University of Hong Kong (1987-1993) and the founding director at the Pianists' Academy in Ansbach, Germany (1984-1987). Internationally, she has been a Guest Professor for 20th-century music at the Central Conservatory in Beijing and a visiting artist and/or visiting lecturer to universities and conservatories in several European countries as well as in China, Taiwan, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Lebanon, and Ecuador. She has served as Chair of the Commission for the Education of the Profess! ional Musician in the International Society for Music Education, as orgnizer of several international conferences, and is presently the Vice President of the International Association for Word and Music Studies. Her education includes three post-graduate degrees: a Master of Music degree in piano performance (Stuttgart), a Master of Arts degree in Romance literature and philosophy (Munich), and an interdisciplinary doctorate in music analysis, musicology, and psychology (Vienna). As a performing pianist, she has given solo and chamber music recitals in 22 countries on all 5 continents and recorded for most German and many international radio stations as well as for 2 LPs nd 4 CDs. As a researcher, she has published numerous scholarly articles as well as 9 monographs, edited and co-authored 3 collections of scholarly essays and 3 journal issues, and translated 1 music-theoretical book from English into German.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Mainer Intl Ltd (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9625800174
• ISBN-13: 978-9625800172
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,147,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Depth analysis of a Masterpiece., June 13, 2000

By 

Örn Leifsson (Reykjavik Iceland.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: J. S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: In-Depth Analysis and Interpretation, volume I (Paperback)

If you are interested in playing or studying this Masterpiece By Johann Sebastian Bach this book is a Great help. The book starts with a brief introduction to the WTC then the book asks questions which deal with the work from the point of harmony, form, structure, tempo, rhythm, interpretation and other relevant aspects of the work, there are seperate questions dealing with the Preludes and the Fugues.

Then there is a chapter which gives you the information on how to answer the questions and then each Prelude and Fuge is analysed and model anwers are given to the questions.

Each Prelude or fugue is analysed in depth so there is a lot of information here and this book deals with the Preludes and Fugues in C major and c minor, C# major and c# minor, And D major and d minor, from both WTC book I and book II.

The rest is dealt with in her books vol 2, vol 3 and vol 4.

I'm studying the WTC now without a teacher so this book is Heaven sent, it's well organiced and easy to use and when you go so thoroughly through a work like this you learn not only to play it but you will understand how it is written and you'll learn a lot about music theory as well.

Highly Recomended and I would also like to recomend Andras Schiff's recording of this Work.