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late intermediate

12. Prelude BWV 857

Johann Sebastian Bach

What's this piece like?
Famously called by Hans von Bülow as the "Old Testament" of music (the 32 Beethoven Sonatas being the "New Testament"), Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier is a cornerstone of the piano repertoire. The prelude in F minor explores broken chords and surprising harmonies, with expressive and melancholic character.
Who's this piece for?
This is a great piece for intermediate level pianists with a solid foundation and strong technique.
1-2 pages
Baroque
F minor

MOOD: Melancholic and dramatic.

TECHNIQUE: Broken chords.

Ranking
Equivalent to RCM level 8
Equivalent to ABRSM level 7
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1706

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

1707

Kingdom of Great Britain was formed.

1717

Water Music was composed by G.F. Handel.

1720

J.S. Bach presented his Brandenburg Concertos to Christian Ludwig, a military commander at Brandenburg-Schwedt.

1722

The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 BWV 857 was composed by J.S. Bach at the age of 37 years old.

1723

A. Vivaldi composed The Four Seasons.

1727

Johann Sebastian Bach finished his St Matthew Passion.

1729

Isaac Newton's Principia was translated from Latin into English.

1732

George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.

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