Prelude and Fugue in A minor, WTC II
About this arrangement
This is No. 20 in Book 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, compiled around 1742 in Leipzig. Our score writes out both repeated halves of the prelude.
Learn the prelude in its two halves and note where the second half differs. In the fugue, learn the subject alone, then add voices one at a time. Loop the dense bars at 50%.
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 Prelude and Fugue in A minor?
This is advanced. The fugue is short, but the prelude is long once its repeats are played, and both need careful voice control.
02 How long is BWV 889?
Our score has 92 bars in total: the prelude is 64 bars and the fugue is 28 bars. Our score writes the prelude's repeats out; printed with repeat signs it is 32 bars.
03 What should I practise first?
Start with the prelude to get used to the key and the touch. For the fugue, learn the subject on its own, then add the other voices one at a time.