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tonebase Piano Course

Bach

Prelude and Fugue in D Minor BWV 875

Taught by renowned pianist

Evan Shinners

Join Bach-specialist Evan Shinners for a look at the up-beat and energetic Prelude in D Minor, BWV 875 – one of the more approachable works from Book Two of the Well-Tempered Clavier.<br><br>This Prelude exists in an earlier version, which Shinners plays through for comparison purposes. Knowing how Bach updated and improved the work can help shape your interpretation, as can understanding what D minor represented in Bach. Shinners offers historically-informed guidance on matters of tempo, ornamentation, and articulation, and demonstrates how to choreograph some of the trickier passagework on a modern piano. He ends with a walk-through of the work, breaking down the technical and musical challenges in each phrase.

  • checkmark icon
    Category: 
    repertoire
  • checkmark icon
    Difficulty: 
    intermediate
  • checkmark icon
    Duration: 
    1
     hours
     hour
All courses on tonebase include subtitles in English and Spanish

Course Syllabus

I. Prelude

Join Bach-specialist Evan Shinners for a look at the up-beat and energetic Prelude in D Minor, BWV 875 – one of the more approachable works from Book Two of the Well-Tempered Clavier.

This Prelude exists in an earlier version, which Shinners plays through for comparison purposes. Knowing how Bach updated and improved the work can help shape your interpretation, as can understanding what D minor represented in Bach. Shinners offers historically-informed guidance on matters of tempo, ornamentation, and articulation, and demonstrates how to choreograph some of the trickier passagework on a modern piano. He ends with a walk-through of the work, breaking down the technical and musical challenges in each phrase.

II. Fugue

Evan Shinners breaks down the sensuous and expressive D minor Fugue from Book II of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier.

This fugue features one of Bach's chromatic subjects, which sets the tone for the work and gives the opening its brooding, lamenting character. The work is filled with optimistic rays of light, however, and Shinners demonstrates Bach's melodic and contrapuntal inventiveness which lighten the mood. Managing multiple voices in your two hands can feel awkward and unnatural, and Shinners takes the opportunity to offer general advice on approaching polyphonic works – physically and interpretively. Finally, Shinners broaches a perennial controversy in Bach playing: to pedal, or not to pedal.

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Evan Shinners
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Evan Shinners

Known for his unceasing devotion to the music of J.S. Bach, Yamaha Artist Evan Shinners has received widespread acclaim for his innovative and daring artistry.

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Evan Shinners
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