Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude BWV 846
Overview
This piece opens The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I (1722), a collection famously called the "Old Testament of music" by conductor Hans von Bülow. German music theorist Hugo Riemann described this prelude as possessing "Olympian calm and serenity."
The entire 35-bar piece consists solely of broken chords (arpeggios), yet its harmonic progression sounds remarkably contemporary. With major seventh chords, diminished chords, and sophisticated voice leading, the music could easily be mistaken for something from the 20th century. Each bar features just three notes in the right hand and two sustained notes in the left, making it accessible to beginners while demanding musical depth to perform expressively.
In 1853, French composer Charles Gounod superimposed a melody over this prelude to create his famous Ave Maria, which has since become a beloved standard at weddings and funerals worldwide. The version Gounod used included the "Schwencke measure"—an extra bar inserted between measures 22 and 23—though modern scholarly editions omit this addition.
When practicing, play the final note of each right-hand pattern softly and observe the rests on beat three carefully. The left hand should sustain its two notes using "finger pedaling." Since Bach wrote this for harpsichord, no dynamics are indicated—the interpretation is entirely yours. Whether you choose a romantic approach with crescendos or a more rhythmic, detached style, let the magnificent chord progression tell its own story.
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