Fugue in D major, WTC I
About this arrangement
This is No. 5 in Book 1 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, compiled in 1722 in Köthen. Like all the fugues in the collection, it uses a subject that is passed between the voices, and the set was first printed in 1801, 51 years after Bach's death.
Start with the subject alone, then mark each place it enters in the score. Practise two voices together, hands separately where one hand plays two parts. Loop the busiest bars at 50% and speed up slowly.
Start with short loops.
Use the section list as a practice map. Start at 50% tempo, loop one section, then return to the full piece once the hand shape feels stable.
Choose Right or Left to focus on one hand. Wait for note checks the highlighted notes as you play them on the screen or a connected MIDI keyboard.
Before you practice.
01 How hard is Bach's Fugue in D major, BWV 850?
It is advanced. It is short, but with four voices you must keep every line clear at once.
02 How long is BWV 850?
Our score of the fugue has 27 bars in 4/4.
03 What should I practise first?
Learn the subject by itself and find where it enters in each voice. Then add a second voice before attempting all four.