Bach – Prelude and Fugue in E♭ BWV 552 (1739)

Given the vast amount of music Bach composed, in his life time he was known predominantly as an organist and adviser on organ building.

Today’s choice – the Prelude and Fugue in E flat BWV 552 – dates from 1739.

The Prelude is a grand work, with the opening section (chords plus rapid scalic decoration) followed by more contrapuntal and imitative sections.

The Fugue is in three linked movements, and is often called the ‘St Anne’, as the opening notes are the same as the hymn tune called ‘St Anne’, which we use for the hymn ‘O God our help in ages past’ – there is no evidence of a formal link between these two pieces. 

The three sections of the fugue are often said to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in the Christian Trinity.

Question – given that the pitches of the fugue are the same, how does Bach vary the fugal material?

And if you enjoyed that…

Here’s Olivier Latry, Organiste Titulaire at the organ of Notre Dame (pre-fire) playing Bach’s most famous organ work (or is it…):

There are thoughts that this work started life as a work for solo violin: