Das Wohltemperierte Clavier I, Praeludium III

Description

C-sharp major, with seven sharps in its key signature, was almost never used in keyboard music of the time; it is here only because this collection passes through every key. This prelude, the third piece of Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier, is among the lightest and brightest in the set.

In 3/8, it begins with a broken-chord figure in the right hand over a short accompaniment in the left, and before long the hands swap roles so that the left takes the same figure. Repeating this exchange, it moves through a series of keys, and near the end passes through a freer section alternating chords and runs before it closes. Its range runs from A-flat 2 to C6.

Rated advanced, it holds 810 notes in about 1 minute 5 seconds in this data, a lot for its length. The tasks are to play the figure with the same lightness in both hands at a quick tempo, and to get used to fingering on so many black keys. Following the hand colours shows which hand has the figure at any moment and makes the exchange easy to see. It is safest to learn the black-key positions with slower playback, then bring the speed back up gradually.

Bach's collection of preludes and fugues for keyboard, covering all 24 keys and regarded as the summit of contrapuntal writing.