The Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. From all the works written in the Baroque era, no other work has been so well-cherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work by Bach.
Though the Well-Tempered Clavier (WTC) was not published during Bach’s lifetime, many manuscript copies were made by his pupils and copies spread steadily all over Europe with his fame. Influential musicians such as Mozart and Beethoven received manuscripts and as everyone knows, these composers in turn influenced the development of the Western music.
The WTC was finally published 51 years after the composer’s death, which marked the culmination of the strenuous efforts made by his son and pupils.
Harpsichordist Yuko Inoue’s career took an unexpected turn when she met the music of C.P.E. Bach: For the first time in her life she heard music that was extremely close to her own temperament, so close that she has jokingly suggested that she herself must have been C.P.E. Bach in a past life.
Here is an excellent performance of J. S. Bach’s Preludes that I enjoyed very much:
