The BWV 547 Präludium (9/8, 88 bars) and Fuge (à 5, alla breve, 72 bars) in C-Dur, BWV 547 is thought to have been composed in Leipzig around 1744, and almost certainly is later than any other similar Bach works known to us today, and the pairing between prelude and fugue was obviously integral from the beginning.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer saw in the prelude the vision of a "crowd moving along in solemn jubilation; Harvey Grace, and others have pointed out the thematic resemblances to the opening chorus of the Epiphany Cantata, "Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen," but that cantata was composed some 20 years earlier. E. Power Biggs thought the "carillon like" pedal part in the prelude "radiated the festive lights of Christmas," while Anton Heiller felt that this piece was about the Resurrection and Ascension.
The fugue is outstanding for the terseness of its distinctive subject, the tautness with which the fabric is consistently woven, the dramatic force of the long-delayed pedal entrance, and the well-nigh superhuman strength of the torrential flow of sheer energy which is guided, and, at the end, curbed, and all while sitting upon a long and triumphant tonic pedal. (some of these notes are from the writings of R. D. Darrell.)
This version is uploaded for PLRT, and it features the FULL plenum in the Fugue, including the Bazuin 32' (Fuge) and the 16' Praestant (towards the end) of the Hoofdwerk.
In order to save space on the Concert Hall, both versions are "combined," with the "close" version coming first, and the "distant" version starting at @
10:30.
I hope you enjoy these, Patrick, and THANK YOU for asking for them! :-)
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