Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546

Prelude#

The prelude is believed to be the more mature of the two movements 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.

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.

Work cited#

• Williams, Peter (2003), The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (2nd ed.), Cambridge University Press,
• Jones, Richard D.P. (2013), The Creative Development of Johann Sebastian Bach, Volume II: 1717–1750: Music to Delight the Spirit. Oxford University Press,

External links#

• 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