Prelude BWV 925 in D Maj.
Præludium [Prelude] in D Maj. BWV 925
Piano: Tullio Forlenza
HISTORICAL NOTES
The piece is 27th in the “Clavier-büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach”, Bach’s eldest son. Bach began composing the collection on 22nd January 1720 in Cöthen.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PIECE
Representing the polyphonic arrival point among the preludes in the "Clavier-Büchlein", this piece is a three-voice composition with the occasional addition of a fourth. The subject is built on a design of expressively flowing quadruplets and the ending is announced by a short fermata awaiting the final return to the theme. Overall it is a unified composition, solidly built on its initial motif, maybe just a little short with respect to the possibilities offered by this motif.
PERFORMANCE NOTES
Among the different options for performing this piece I favour the rich, full sound that evokes the baroque string orchestra with an inclination towards a pulsating rhythm. The strings provided the point of reference to create an appropriate piano-like timbre which sounds like a long “stacccato”. Thanks to these characteristics, the piece is suitable for students at the third level of the course who are familiar with Bach’s music.
CURIOSITY
Again, as with Prelude BWV 927, authorship of the composition is uncertain but the scribe is Wilhelm Friedemann who could also be the composer although probably under the supervision of his father.
Tullio Forlenza