Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852
Keyboard composition by J. S. Bach
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The Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major, BWV 852, is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the seventh prelude and fugue in the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer.
Analysis
Prelude
The prelude is 70 measures long, and consists of three sections:[1]
- The first section begins from the first measure and lasts until m. 10. It is a short toccata,[2] mainly made of energetic semiquaver movements, with the ending two measures (m. 8 and 9) made of demisemiquavers.[3] It establishes the tonic key (E♭), presents theme I, and ends on the dominant (B♭).[1]
- The second section starts at m. 10, and ends at m. 25. It is a chorale, in the style of four-part harmony, introducing theme II.[4]
- The third section starts at m. 25 and lasts until the end. It is a four-voice double fugue, and the first subject is introduced in the alto (theme I extended), second subject in the bass (theme II).[1][5] This section is three times as long as the other two sections together.[6]
This prelude is unique among the 48 preludes of The Well-Tempered Clavier because it already includes a fully developed fugue. It may originally have been conceived for organ (the early version has fewer semiquavers in the bass of the second section than the final one).[7][a]
Fugue
The fugue is 37 measures long and has three voices.[1] Its light style contrasts strongly with the prelude.[9]
