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Organ music piece written by Johann Sebastian Bach
The beginning of the BWV 546 Prelude, in the hand of Johann Peter Kellner.
Prelude and Fugue in C minor ,
BWV 546 is a piece of
organ music written by
Johann Sebastian Bach , with the
prelude dating around his time in
Leipzig (1723–1750), and the
fugue dating around his time in
Weimar (1708–1717).
[1] Like most other organ
prelude and fugues of Bach, no autograph score survives, with the oldest known score copied by
Johann Peter Kellner , an acquaintance of Bach.
[2] The work was played as a
postlude for the
funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales , the
funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , and the Committal of Queen Elizabeth II by organists
Martin Neary and
Luke Bond , respectively.
[3]
[4]
[5]
Prelude
The prelude is believed to be the more mature of the two movements
[1] due to structural similarities between this movement and the Leipzig organ preludes of
BWV 548 and
BWV 544 , all of which showcase a massive, intricate
ritornello construction.
[2] Much of the opening theme for this work was subtly arranged and transposed in G minor for the lighter opening chorus of the
cantata
Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden, BWV 47 ,
[6]
[7] which was performed on 13 October 1726 in Leipzig. After the stately initial dialogue, the piece is soon flanked with a flurry of running triplets, intertwined with a looming second theme, with the original one reoccurring only in fragments until its final statement.
[8]
Fugue
The
alla breve fugue is believed to have been written during Bach's time in Weimar, and was added to the prelude during his time in Leipzig. Some believe the movement may have been partially or fully composed by Kellner.
[9]
[2]
The fugue subject
References
Work cited
Williams, Peter (2003), The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (2nd ed.), Cambridge University Press,
ISBN
0-521-89115-9
Jones, Richard D.P. (2013), The Creative Development of Johann Sebastian Bach, Volume II: 1717–1750: Music to Delight the Spirit. Oxford University Press,
ISBN
978-0-19-969628-4
External links
Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 : Scores at the
International Music Score Library Project
Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 Kellner facsimile at
Bach Digital
Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 : performance by
Ton Koopman on the 1746 Hildebrandt organ in St. Wenzel, Naumburg, Germany, by courtesy of the
Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)
Free download of BWV 546 recorded by
James Kibbie on the 1717 Trost organ in St. Walpurgis, Großengottern, Germany
Video recording of the Prelude in C minor (BWV 546) performed by Robert Pecksmith on the 1735 Silbermann organ of St. Petri, Freiberg, Germany
Organ
Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful)
Sonatas, BWV 525–530
Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 531
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537
Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538
Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542
Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544
Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546
Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548
Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful)
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (doubtful)
Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566
Fantasia ("Pièce d'Orgue") in G major, BWV 572
Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
Concertos, BWV 592–597
Orgelbüchlein , BWV 599–644
Schübler Chorales , BWV 645–650
Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes , BWV 651–668
Chorale partita Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig , BWV 768
Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769
Neumeister chorales , BWV 1090–1120
Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält , BWV 1128
Keyboard
Aria variata alla maniera italiana
Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue
Harpsichord solo concertos
English Suites
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 906
French Suites
Goldberg Variations
Inventions and Sinfonias
Italian Concerto
Overture in the French style
Partitas, BWV 825–830
Six Little Preludes , BWV 933–938
The Well-Tempered Clavier , BWV 846–893
I :
C, BWV 846
c, BWV 847
C♯ , BWV 848
c♯ , BWV 849
e, BWV 855
g, BWV 861
B♭ , BWV 866
b♭ , BWV 867
II :
C, BWV 870
c, BWV 871
c♯ , BWV 873
D, BWV 874
d, BWV 875
f, BWV 881
g♯ , BWV 887
b♭ , BWV 891
b, BWV 893
Toccatas, BWV 910–916
Lute Mixed collections