Das Wohltemperierte Clavier I, Praeludium VI

Description

Like the C minor second prelude, this D minor prelude is étude-like, carrying a single figure through to the end. As the sixth piece of Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier, it is one of the more technical pieces in the first half of the collection.

In 4/4, the right hand plays a figure of sixteenth-note triplets without pause while the left hand supports the harmony in eighth notes. Later the left hand joins the triplet motion, and there are passages where the hands move in contrary motion. The figure itself stays constant, but the harmony gradually builds tension and the music gains force towards the end. With a compass of C2 to C6, it fits a 61-key instrument.

Rated intermediate, it lasts about 1 minute 38 seconds with 784 notes in this data. The tasks are to keep the triplets even without losing the downbeats of the 4/4 bar, and to keep the wrist relaxed through the continuous motion. Where the left hand joins the triplets, slower playback helps you see how the hands interlock. Section off the hard passages with an A-B loop and bring the tempo back up step by step. Comparing it with the similarly étude-like C minor second prelude also shows how differently the two pieces use the hands.

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