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The Old Testament of Music

Tom Service explores JS Bach's extraordinary The Well-Tempered Clavier. Why is it so widely seen as such a cornerstone of classical music?

Tom Service explores JS Bach's extraordinary The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues for keyboard in all 24 major and minor keys. It's widely regarded as a towering achievement and a cornerstone of western art music. The 19th century German conductor and pianist, Hans von B眉low famously described it as 鈥淭he Old Testament of Music鈥� and generations of musicians and scholars have spoken of its monumental stature in the history and development of music.

From the first, C major prelude with its lean and simple series of arpeggios, taking listeners on an exquisite harmonic journey, through to darker and more complex moments, with plenty of playfulness and joy along the way, The Well-Tempered Clavier is an astonishing feat of imagination. These two books of preludes and fugues are a treasure trove, where Bach combines contrapuntal wizardry with his extraordinary gift for expressing human emotion.

With help from American pianist, Jeremy Denk, Tom Service lifts the lid on The Well-Tempered Clavier to discover its secrets.

Producer: Jonathan Hallewell

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 24 Nov 2023 16:30
大象传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in C Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 1

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA-67741/4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in C Sharp Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 1

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 477-8078.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in C Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 2

    Performer: Glenn Gould.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.
    • SM2K-52603.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in F Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 1

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA-67741/4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in G Sharp Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Book 2

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA-67741/4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in F Sharp Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • Decca.
    • 417 236-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in E Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Glenn Gould.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.
    • SM2K-52600.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in G Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 13637.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in D Sharp Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Richard Egarr.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMU-907431.32.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in D Sharp Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • Decca.
    • 417 236-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in C Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA-67741/4.

  • Charles Gounod

    Ave Maria

    Composer: Chris Hazell. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach. Performer: Elsa Dreisig. Performer: Thibaut Garcia.
    • Erato.
    • 0190295605261.

  • J.S. Bach

    Prelude in C Major

    Performer: Les Baxter and His Orchestra.
    • Electronic Vanguard.
    • EV-906-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude In C Sharp Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Edwin Fischer.
    • EMI.
    • CDH-763189-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in C Sharp Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Edwin Fischer.
    • EMI.
    • CDH-763189-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in A Flat Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Ralph Kirkpatrick.
    • ARCHIV.
    • 463-603-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in A Flat Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Helmut Walcha.
    • Broken Audio.
    • BRAU 0516.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in A Flat Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: John Wells.
    • Ribbonwood.
    • 1007.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in D Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA-67741/4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    No.2 Fugue in C Minor

    Performer: Hagen Quartett.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 000649302.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Missa Solemnis - Gloria

    Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini. Performer: Philharmonia Chorus. Performer: New Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • His Masters Voice.
    • SLS 989.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Prelude and fugue in E minor, Op.35

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.
    • Decca.
    • 4830258.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Prelude in A major, Op.87

    Performer: Tatiana Nikolayeva.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA66441/3.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in C Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2

    Performer: Glenn Gould.
    • SONY.
    • SM2K-52603.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in B Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • Decca.
    • 417 236-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in F Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • Decca.
    • 417 236-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in G Major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 2

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • Decca.
    • 417 236-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in B Flat Minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • Decca.
    • 417 236-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in C major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book 1

    Performer: Pierre鈥怢aurent Aimard.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • B002119902.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Nov 2023 17:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Fri 24 Nov 2023 16:30
    大象传媒 Radio 3

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