Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 847

Track: Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 847

This is the discussion thread for the Bach Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 847 (from Book 1 of the Well-Tempered Clavier) — post any question you have while working through it.

This Track goes deep: it covers the Prelude's opening pattern, melody, and fantasy section, then a full arc through the Fugue — exposition, development, recapitulation, and a dedicated "Voicing Gym" for bringing out independent voices in the fugue's texture. Evan Shinners joins for structure, tempo, and phrasing throughout.

Common sticking points we'd love to hear about: balancing the fugue's voices, the hand-crossings and jumps in the Fantasy section, or pacing the tempo across the whole piece. No question is too small — bar-specific, fingering, memory, all fair game.

Been away from this one for a while? Post exactly where you left off and what felt hard — that's often all it takes to get moving again.

4 replies

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    • Terence_W
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I'd like to get input on the following fingering bar 26 and 27.

      • hot4euterpe
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Just curious why you have chosen to play it that way; were you encountering a problem taking beats 2,3, and 4 in RH?

      If a fingering is working for someone musically then I’d say play it as you like. However, it seems like it would be bothersome to try and get a seamless sound with the thumbs alternations at the end, or at least it would be more effort than the indicated 3212 in the RH.

      Also, using the LH to help the RH means you can not finger pedal the harmonic tones which is not specifically necessary but would certainly be something one may do in these pedal point, ‘toccata’ style measures!

      • Terence_W
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks for sharing your input.  I'll have a look at the fingering again.  Initially, the left hand 5 seems easier to reach after playing the A in the last bar.

      • hot4euterpe
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       No problem - always enjoy a good question about fingering solutions!

Content aside

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