Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor, WTC II
About this arrangement
This is No. 4 in Book 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, compiled around 1742 in Leipzig. The prelude is heavily ornamented with mordents and appoggiaturas, while the fugue has little ornamentation.
Practise the prelude's ornaments slowly on their own, then fit them into the line. In the fugue, learn the subject first and mark where it enters. Loop the busiest bars at 50% and build up.
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 C-sharp minor, BWV 873?
It is advanced. The prelude needs neat ornaments and the fugue needs clear, independent lines in a rolling 12/16.
02 How long is BWV 873?
Our score has 133 bars in total: a 62-bar prelude in 9/8 and a 71-bar fugue in 12/16.
03 What should I practise first?
Start with the prelude's ornaments at a slow tempo. Then learn the fugue subject on its own.