Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
Encyclopedia
"The Great" Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV
543 (an alternate version is numbered BWV 543a) is a piece of organ music
written by Johann Sebastian Bach
sometime around his years as court organist to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar
(1708-1717). It is the final incarnation of Bach's harpsichord Fugue in A minor, BWV 944, written in 1708. This piece should not be confused with the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor
, which is also called "the Great."
, then goes off into a flurry of intricate arpeggios over a long pedal point
. The build up is then interrupted by a virtuoso run in the harmonic minor, then a grinding tremolo of a mix of the b diminished chord
, and the c augmented chord. A stop and go pattern of chromatic runs
, downward arpeggios, and pedal solos based on the opening sequence ensue. The Toccata
-like prelude bears the marks of Bach's early, north German-influenced style, while the fugue
could be considered a later product of Bach's maturity.
The Fugue ends in one of Bach's most Toccata
-like, virtuosic cadenzas in the harmonic minor.
nature, most organist
s can play this piece in any tempo they want, and it can be easily transcribed to a different instrument
. Liszt
transcribed this, and many of Bach's other works, for the piano
.
created a variation
of Prelude and Fugue in A minor for the main theme of the French movie The Sicilian Clan.
BWV
The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis is the numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. The prefix BWV, followed by the work's number, is the shorthand identification for Bach's compositions...
543 (an alternate version is numbered BWV 543a) is a piece of organ music
Organ repertoire
The organ repertoire consists of music written for the organ. Because it is one of the oldest musical instruments in existence, written organ repertoire spans a time period almost as long as that of written music itself. The organ's solo repertoire is among the largest for any musical instrument...
written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
sometime around his years as court organist to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia. The chief town and capital was Weimar.-Division of Leipzig:...
(1708-1717). It is the final incarnation of Bach's harpsichord Fugue in A minor, BWV 944, written in 1708. This piece should not be confused with the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor
Great Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542
The Great Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542, is an organ prelude and fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach. It acquired that name to distinguish it from the earlier Little Fugue in G minor, which is shorter...
, which is also called "the Great."
Prelude
The Prelude starts out with a long introduction, introducing the chromatic, almost descending subjectFugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
, then goes off into a flurry of intricate arpeggios over a long pedal point
Pedal point
In tonal music, a pedal point is a sustained tone, typically in the bass, during which at least one foreign, i.e., dissonant harmony is sounded in the other parts. A pedal point sometimes functions as a "non-chord tone", placing it in the categories alongside suspensions, retardations, and passing...
. The build up is then interrupted by a virtuoso run in the harmonic minor, then a grinding tremolo of a mix of the b diminished chord
Diminished chord
A diminished triad chord or diminished chord is a triad consisting of two minor thirds above the root — if built on C, a diminished chord would have a C, an E and a G. It resembles a minor triad with a lowered fifth....
, and the c augmented chord. A stop and go pattern of chromatic runs
Melisma
Melisma, in music, is the singing of a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession. Music sung in this style is referred to as melismatic, as opposed to syllabic, where each syllable of text is matched to a single note.-History:Music of ancient cultures used...
, downward arpeggios, and pedal solos based on the opening sequence ensue. The Toccata
Toccata
Toccata is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard or plucked string instrument featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections, with or without imitative or fugal interludes, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer's fingers...
-like prelude bears the marks of Bach's early, north German-influenced style, while the fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
could be considered a later product of Bach's maturity.
Fugue
The fugue is in 6/8 time, unlike the prelude, which is in 4/4 time.The Fugue ends in one of Bach's most Toccata
Toccata
Toccata is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard or plucked string instrument featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections, with or without imitative or fugal interludes, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer's fingers...
-like, virtuosic cadenzas in the harmonic minor.
Liszt's Transcription
Because of the piece's overall rhapsodicRhapsody (music)
A rhapsody in music is a one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations...
nature, most organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
s can play this piece in any tempo they want, and it can be easily transcribed to a different instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
. Liszt
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
transcribed this, and many of Bach's other works, for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
The Sicilian Clan
Italian composer Ennio MorriconeEnnio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
created a variation
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
of Prelude and Fugue in A minor for the main theme of the French movie The Sicilian Clan.
External links
- Free download of BWV 543 recorded by James KibbieJames KibbieJames Kibbie is an American concert organist, recording artist and pedagogue. He is Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan.- Biography :James Kibbie was born in 1949 in Vinton, Iowa, USA...
on the 1736 Erasmus Bielfeldt organ in St. Wilhadi, Stade, Germany - PDF of Liszt's Piano transcription of BWV 543
- Musicmatch guide review on BWV 543. Musicmatch Guide, classical edition has album reviews and musical reviews on almost all works of J.S. Bach and many other classical composers