Prelude and Fugue in E major, WTC II
About this arrangement
This is No. 9 in Book 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, compiled around 1742 in Leipzig. Mozart arranged the fugue for string trio as part of K. 405.
Play the prelude hands separately, then together at a slow, even tempo. In the fugue, count in half-bar units because of the 4/2 metre, learn the subject alone, and loop 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 E major, BWV 878?
It is advanced: the prelude is long and the fugue needs patient control of its long, overlapping lines.
02 How long is BWV 878?
Our score has 151 bars in total: the fugue is 43 bars and the prelude is 108, because our score writes the repeats out. Printed with repeat signs, the prelude is 54 bars.
03 What should I practise first?
Learn the prelude's opening idea hands separately, then the fugue subject. Count the 4/2 metre slowly before adding voices.
04 Did anyone else arrange this fugue?
Yes. Mozart transcribed it for strings as part of his K. 405 set of fugue arrangements.