My dear friends, Bach's Well Tempered Clavichord is a treasure trove of sublime music. One of my favorites is the sixth Prelude and Fugue in D Minor in both books. To-day I would like to share with you some thoughts on the prelude in D Minor from Book One. Like so much of Bach's music, it sends one into a trance-like state. The triplet pattern in the right hand is repeated relentlessly till the very end , culminating with four cadential chords crowned with a Tierce de Picardi . This repeated pattern without a single break is what builds up a cumulative, hypnotic state. At the same time the music is noble ,inward looking and meditative. But the left hand has an equally important role to play. The pedal point on the tonic with which it starts is a clear indication that the music is going to be serious ( as is also the key of D minor itself). But then the left hand starts to move in fifths and thirds and seconds etc. and begins to have a life of its own. ...
Burgmuller wrote several, instructive piano pieces. Among them is the Rondo alla Turca which is a most beautiful pieces and one that my Intermediate level piano students love to study and to play. It also makes a great recital piece. I hope that you enjoy my video tutorial and if you are an intermediate level pianist, I hope that it inspires you to play this beautiful piece :)
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