Program Notes: Johann Sebastian Bach – Das Wohltemperierte Clavier, Book II (The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II), BWV 870-893
Welcome, dear concert-goer, to a deeper and often more intricate journey into the boundless genius of Johann Sebastian Bach. Tonight, we continue our exploration of his monumental Das Wohltemperierte Clavier, Book II (The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II), BWV 870-893. If Book I was a foundational masterpiece, Book II is a profound testament to a lifetime of accumulated wisdom and an adventurous spirit that continued to evolve even in his later years.
Bach: The Consummate Master's Further Explorations
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) solidified his reputation as a supreme master of counterpoint, harmony, and keyboard composition with the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier. Book II, composed much later, around 1738-1742 (primarily in Leipzig), represents a mature Bach, one who had already composed his great Passions, the Mass in B minor, and many of his monumental organ works.
Like Book I, Book II consists of 24 pairs of Preludes and Fugues, systematically cycling through every major and minor key of the chromatic scale. However, there are significant differences in character and approach that make Book II a distinct and often more profound experience.
A More Introspective and Diverse Landscape:
While Book I might be seen as a pedagogical and illustrative work, demonstrating the viability of all keys, Book II feels more like a personal and artistic statement. The music is generally more complex, more expansive, and often more introspective and emotionally nuanced.
-
Expanded Scope: The individual Preludes and Fugues in Book II are often longer and more elaborate than those in Book I. Bach delves into deeper emotional territories and explores a wider range of compositional techniques.
-
Greater Variety of Forms: The Preludes, in particular, show an even greater diversity of forms and styles. Some resemble character pieces, others are like miniature concertos, and some are highly improvisatory.
-
Evolved Counterpoint: The fugues, while still showcasing impeccable counterpoint, often feature more complex and subtle treatments of their subjects, with greater harmonic adventurousness and a more profound emotional weight.
What to Listen For: Wisdom in Every Pair
Each of the 24 pairs remains a self-contained universe, offering a glimpse into Bach's inexhaustible inventiveness:
-
The Preludes: These are a feast for the ears, ranging from the lyrical and contemplative to the dramatic and virtuosic. You might hear intricate arpeggios, expressive melodic lines, or driving rhythmic patterns, each setting a unique emotional and harmonic stage for the fugue that follows. They demonstrate Bach's incredible ability to imbue even seemingly simple textures with profound meaning.
-
The Fugues: The heart of each pair, these are contrapuntal marvels. Listen for the distinct "subject" (the main melodic idea) as it is introduced by one voice and then systematically imitated and developed by others. Bach masterfully weaves these independent voices (ranging from two to four or five parts) into a rich, dense, yet always transparent fabric. The fugues in Book II often present greater challenges in following their complex arguments, but their rewards are equally greater. You might hear subjects in inversion, retrograde, augmentation, or diminution – all seamlessly integrated.
A Continuing Legacy of Influence:
Just like Book I, The Well-Tempered Clavier Book II was intended for both instruction and enjoyment, providing a lifetime of study for keyboardists. Its intellectual rigor and profound beauty have ensured its place as an indispensable cornerstone of the classical repertoire. Generations of composers and performers, from Beethoven and Chopin to Brahms and Shostakovich, have absorbed its lessons, recognizing it as the ultimate school for musical thought.
Listening to The Well-Tempered Clavier Book II is an experience of deep engagement. It invites you to participate in a dialogue with one of history's greatest minds, to marvel at the infinite possibilities within a disciplined framework, and to be moved by music of unparalleled depth and clarity. It is a work that continues to reveal new layers of genius with every listening.
So, lean back and allow yourself to be captivated by the astonishing richness, the intricate beauty, and the profound wisdom of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II. It is a truly timeless masterpiece.
