Welcome to My Learning Book for The Well-Tempered Clavier 2 !

About Mr. Johann Christoph Altnikol

I am Anna Magdalena Bach, the wife of the great Maestro Johann Sebastian Bach. Nice to see you all. And thank you for visiting my site. I am trying to tell the people what I am learning through this WTC2. First of all, I would like to introduce you Mr. Johann Christoph Altnikol. He is now 24 years old and an eligible composer and organist. He also plays violin and cello well. He now studies theology from last year in our city Leipzig. He is a pupil of Johann Sebastian Bach in composition and keyboard instruments. Johann Sebastian thinks him as a favorite assistant. So Johann Christoph is always around us. One of my daughter, Elizabeth Juliane Friedericia now 18 years old, who is a good girl and bears a striking likeness to me, might become attracted to him. This promising young man, Mr. Johann Christoph Altnikol, has been helping me to compile "The Well-Tempered Clavier 2" from the individual manscripts of Preludes and Fugues. The title page of "The Well-Tempered Clavier 2" was made by him. He wrote; Des Wohltemperierten Claviers Zweiter Theil bestehend in Praeludien und Fugen durch alle Tone und Semitonien verfertigt von Johann Sebastian Bach Königl, Pohlnisch und Churfürst. Sächs Hoff Compositeur Capellmeister und Directore Chori Musici in Leipzig Im Jahre 1744 The Well-Tempered Clavier Second Part consisting of Preludes and Fugues through all the Tones and Semitones written by Johann Sebastian Bach Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Court Composer Capellmeister and Directore Chori Musici in Leipzig in 1744 You will notice that this Title Page resembles to that of the First Book of the Well-Tempered Clavier in a way. Johann Sebastian wrote 22 years ago; The Well-Tempered Clavier or Preludes and Fugues through all the tones and semitones including those with a major third or Ut Re Mi as well as those with a minor third or Re Mi Fa. For the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning and especially for the pastime of those already skilled in this study composed and prepared by Johann Sebastian Bach at present Capellmeister to His Serene Highness the Prince of Anhalt-Cothen, and director of His Chamber Music. Anno 1722 In the Well-Tempered Clavier Second Part, "including those with a major third or Ut Re Mi as well as those with a minor third or Re Mi Fa" , "For the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning" and "especially for the pastime of those already skilled in this study" are omitted. As to "including those with a major third or Ut Re Mi as well as those with a minor third or Re Mi Fa", there is no point in mentioning it at this late stage. Now everyone knows the difference between "major" and "minor". And the Well Tempered Clavier of 1722 had to have the clear purposes like "for the profit and use" or "for the pastime". The Cöthen Court, for which we served and in which we lived, would not usually allow the composer to bring out with him his works which he has made for the Court or the Church as his duty because these works and thier music scores belong to the Court. They would say, "Exceptionally copies only for Johann Sebastian himself, scores of the works dedicated to certain players like works for solo violin, those which have nothing to do with the Court nor the Church, and scores of the works only for your domestic affairs can be your belongings." So My husband indicated those purposes on the title page with some illustration. just before he left the court of Anhalt-Cöthen to take up his duties as Kantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. So now fortunately we have the original here. And we don't have to include this kind of purpose in the title.

Anna Magdalena Bach an imaginary portrait of mine made by Iori Fujita in 2009 May I introduce myself?

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The Well-Tempered Clavier Second Part

Prelude 14 an example of a folded sheet Fugue 14 is on the other side.

Each Prelude and Fugue of this Well-Tempered Clavier Second Part was originally written out separately on a folded sheet of paper. Basically, Prelude on one side, Fugue on the other side. So we don't have to turn page during playing. Then Mr. Johann Christoph Altnikol made the complete set of copies and added the Title page. Not only pupils of Johann Sebastian but also I, Anna Magdalena, made several fair copies to help the compilation. Johann Sebastian seems to think that it is not necessary to have a Book 2 , another Volume nor Second Part. Moreover he had wanted to replace, for example, No.14 F sharp minor to another new beautiful one, which is now for Second Part. Additionaly Johann Sebastian would continue to make revisions even in copies of his pupils and perhaps never gave us his final thoughts on the subject. He actually said in his webpages; "Surely, now there is another plan for a new set of the Well-Tempered Clavier. In my opinion, it is not necessary to have a Book 2 or a Volume 2. In these 20 years, the Well-Tempered Clavier has worked well and is still working. If some revision is possible, I would like to change, for example, No.14 F sharp Minor to another new beautiful one which I have now." But at the same time, he knows I wanted a new complete practice book for our children, especially for Johann Christian, now 10 years old . It was just like that Wilhelm Friedemann, Maria Barbara's son, had this Well-Tempered Clavier for his learnig clavier. Then when he heard that Johann Christoph Altnikol put a name to that set "The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2", he had the magnanimity to accept this. On the contrary he might have no time to compile a New Well-Tempered Clavier. So his comment can only be an excuse.

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Why "Sweet" not "Sacred"?

Sacred Sacred Sacred Sacred Sacred Sacred

MST is the abbreviation not only for "Music of Sacred Temperament" but also for "Music of Sweet Temperament". In german, "sacred" is "sakral", and "sweet" is "süß". About temperament, LORD imposed us a serious confusion, which I can't understand exactly, but favorably gave us twelve notes for music. Johann Sebastian traveled these twelve notes one by one for "Soli Deo Gloria" which means "To God alone be glory!" and hoped us to be saved by music with conscious of sin. He wrote these words, "Soli deo sit gloria", at the bottom of the last page of the well-Tempered Clavier where is Fugue No.24 h moll. There must be more importance on the fact that music is built on the twelve notes than on a subtle distinction relating to temperament systems. So he needs the Sacred Temperament. In fact many Preludes and Fugue of the Well-Tempered Clavier of 1722 have some sacred atmosphere compered with those of 1744. Especially Prelude and Fugue No.1, the first one, and Prelude and Fugue No.24, the last one, woud be in the realm of "Music of Devotion". But there is no "Soli deo sit gloria" in this "Second Part". As to the style of music, Prelude No.24 is only one prelude in binary form in other words, "two sections both repeated", among those of the Well-Tempered Clavier of 1722. There are ten examples of this in the Well-Tempered Clavier of 1744. The disposition of the pieces in WTC 2 has no relation to an intended sequence of performance, which is different in WTC 1 where the order itself has the sacred significance. Here you can say that WTC 2 is a mere compilation of 24 Preludes and Fugues. On the other hand, many of the original autograph scores which my great husband, Johann Sebastian, wrote by himself have the title with numbers. For Example, Prelude F sharp minor has the clear title of "Praeludium ˜. 14". I think that Prelude No.1 plays an important role as the openning of WTC 2 by its musical motif. So to play or linsten to the pieces one by one in order is interesting and pleasurable. Cantata BWV 210a "O angenehme Melodei!" Ihr Sorgen, flieht, Flieht, ihr betrübten Kümmernisse! Ein singend Lied Macht herbes Grämen süße,... Flee, you cares flee, you troubling worries! A melodious song makes bitter grieving sweet,...

Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet

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The Well-Tempered Clavier 2
INDEX

Clich the name of tune, then you will go to the page you want.
Click or , then you can hear the music on this page.

Prelude	Fugue	Key	( Key )	BWV	mp3 P&F
Prelude No. 1	Fugue No. 1	C Major	C-dur	870	01&
Prelude No. 2	Fugue No. 2	C Minor	c-moll	871	02&
Prelude No. 3	Fugue No. 3	C# Major	Cis-dur	872	03&
Prelude No. 4	Fugue No. 4	C# Minor	cis-moll	873	04&
Prelude No. 5	Fugue No. 5	D Major	D-dur	874	05&
Prelude No. 6	Fugue No. 6	D Minor	d-moll	875	06&
Prelude No. 7	Fugue No. 7	Eb Major	Es-dur	876	07&
Prelude No. 8	Fugue No. 8	D# Minor	dis-moll	877	08&
Prelude No. 9	Fugue No. 9	E Major	E-dur	878	09&
Prelude No.10	Fugue No.10	E Minor	e-moll	879	10&
Prelude No.11	Fugue No.11	F Major	F-dur	880	11&
Prelude No.12	Fugue No.12	F Minor	f-moll	881	12&
Prelude No.13	Fugue No.13	F# Major	Fis-dur	882	13&
Prelude No.14	Fugue No.14	F# Minor	fis-moll	883	14&
Prelude No.15	Fugue No.15	G Major	G-dur	884	15&
Prelude No.16	Fugue No.16	G Minor	g-moll	885	16&
Prelude No.17	Fugue No.17	Ab Major	As-dur	886	17&
Prelude No.18	Fugue No.18	G# Minor	gis-moll	887	18&
Prelude No.19	Fugue No.19	A Major	A-dur	888	19&
Prelude No.20	Fugue No.20	A Minor	a-moll	889	20&
Prelude No.21	Fugue No.21	Bb Major	B-dur	890	21&
Prelude No.22	Fugue No.22	Bb Minor	b-moll	891	22&
Prelude No.23	Fugue No.23	B Major	H-dur	892	23&
Prelude No.24	Fugue No.24	B Minor	h-moll	893	24&
Prelude	Fugue	Key	( Key )	BWV	P&F

Sorry, I don't know what BWV stands for. But it is only for your information.
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