Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, BWV 555 (Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, No. 3)

For a long time, I've been thinking about "redoing" these. I have played most of them for quite a long time.

I'll be using the splendid 1787 Hohlzey organ of the Abbey Church of St. Peter and Paul in Weissenau, produced by Prospectum.

I can't understand why we don't hear more of this organ, but I do recommend it. To read my 2016 sample set review, you can find it on "The Barde" (top of the page).

Scholars have long wondered just who wrote these lovely pieces. J. S. Bach is usually the "attributed" composer, but many scholars now tell us that they may be the work of Johann Tobias Krebs (1680-1762) or of his son, Johann Ludwig (1713-1780).

I will leave that question unanswered... :-)

The third is the remarkable one in E Minor. The prelude is solemn, written in a manor that recalls some of the Passiontide motets of the Renaissance. The Fugue starts with long notes for the subject but the energy, drive and intensity really get going.

This is one the students often make the mistake of starting too quickly, as the long notes of the opening "sound slow" to them, but beware! If you start too fast, you are going to wind up with some very fast passagework towards the climax, or, even worse, you'll have to slow it down... :-(

So, use discretion in selecting your tempo. :-)

Registration is "quiet" throughout, with no addition of stops.

I'm thinking of this set of eight as one, complete entity, so, I am seeking as much variety of sounds and colors as possible, keeping in mind the requirements for each piece. I'm also trying to use the instrument "historically," using nothing that is not available on the actual organ.

The excellent, clean score is attached below.

I hope you enjoy this "quick tour" of the "big" Eight Little Preludes and Fugues!