late intermediate

Prelude BWV 855a

Alexander Siloti

What's this piece like?
This arrangement has been described as "perhaps Siloti's most tender and perfect" transcription. It transposes Bach's original down from the original E minor into B minor, with the steady sixteenth-note figuration that was originally given by Bach to the left hand being instead assigned to the right hand. Siloti also adds a repeat of the entire work, in order to allow for a change of voicing where the melody in the left hand is emphasized. The chords in the left hand are arpeggiated; however, according to Siloti's daughter Kyriena (to whom the work was dedicated), he would omit the arpeggiation on the first pass and restore it on the repeat in order to heighten the effect of the left-hand melody. It has been performed by many pianists, most famously Emil Gilels. The date of the arrangement is uncertain: it was first published by A. Gutheil of Moscow, and was performed by Siloti in public for the "first time" in February 1912.
Who's this piece for?
If you are at an intermediate level and enjoy playing relaxing music, this piece will be a great challenge!
3-4 pages
Romantic
B minor

MOOD: Meditative, serious, relaxing and solemn.

TECHNIQUE: Right hand and thumb.

Ranking
Equivalent to RCM level 7
Equivalent to ABRSM level 7
More like this
View all

Mamma

P. Tchaikovsky

Homage to Chopin

W. Gillock

Autumn sketch

W. Gillock

Soaring

W. Gillock

Nocturne

F. Chopin

Nocturne

F. Chopin

Nocturne

F. Chopin

Romance

S. Rachmaninoff

Prelude

T. Brown

Prelude

T. Brown

Mélodie

S. Rachmaninoff

Serenade

S. Rachmaninoff

Entreating child

R. Schumann

Almost too serious

R. Schumann

The poet speaks

R. Schumann

Waltz

F. Chopin

Subscribe to read and download the full score.

Loading score preview...

1905

Albert Einstein publishes his theory of Special Relativity.

1906

Dmitri Shostakovich was born.

1907

Edvard Grieg died.

1909

North Pole is reached by American explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson.

1912

Prelude was first published when A. Siloti was 49 years old.

1912

Chinese Republic proclaimed after a revolution overthrows Manchu dynasty.

1912

New Mexico and Arizona admitted as states of the U.S.

1912

Titanic sinks on its first voyage.

1913

Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring premieres in Paris.

Other releases