Bach -- 18 Short Preludes (Alfred Masterwork Edition)

Some of the easiest Bach keyboard music I have run into . Lots of fingerings, useful ornamentation footnotes . Great way to get started . Much of it is on the same level as "The Anna Magdenela Bach Book " .

Legible, clear, with great forward re history, interpretation, and how to play the musical markings - mordents, appoggiatura, etc. Plus it lies flat upon the piano stand so the pages don't close of themselves. The preludes are a "must learn" for any serious piano student. Most of all, it's pretty easy to play and the pieces are delightful!

Do not confuse these preludes with those in the 'Das Wohltempiertes Klavier'. These consist of the 12 Kleine Praeludien which Bach probably wrote for his students to practice; seven of which are in the Clavier-Buchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.The other Six Short Preludes (first published by Hoffmeister and Kuhnel) are also in this series. The first of the Six Preludes is just so beautiful and simple.The book contains extensive details about fingering and execution of ornamentation and each piece has ornamentation details in note form (lighter printing which is either above the treble cleff or below the bass cleff depending to which it refers). There is also a thematic index for the 12 and 6 short preludes for a quick reference.This is an excellent book in print and details. If you enjoy playing Bach, this book is a must.Contents are somewhat difficult to put together in terms of BWV, so here goes arranging them appropriately:There are no BWV series numbers in this book which can be confusing because the order and prelude numbers are notncecssarily exactly based on any other edition with the same title (except for the 6 little preludes).To enhance the reader's understanding of what is offered in this edition, I researched each prelude from the originalsources listed on imslp.org and marked each prelude found in the thematic index according to its actual classification.Twelve Short PreludesPrelude No. 1 bwv 924 CMPrelude No. 2 bwv 939 CMPrelude No. 3 bwv 999 C-Prelude No. 4 bwv 925 DMPrelude No. 5 bwv 926 D-Prelude No. 6 bwv 940 D-Prelude No. 7 bwv 941 E-Prelude No. 8 bwv 927 FMPrelude No. 9 bwv 928 FMPrelude No. 10 bwv 929 G-Prelude No. 11 bwv 930 G-Prelude No. 12 bwv 942 A-Six Short PreludesPrelude No. 1 bwv 933 CMPrelude No. 2 bwv 934 C-Prelude No. 3 bwv 935 D-Prelude No. 4 bwv 936 DMPrelude No. 5 bwv 937 EMPrelude No. 6 bwv 938 E-Piece Styles: BaroqueInstrumentation: Piano

I was perfectly happy playing easy stuff but my evil piano teacher insisted that I keep learning something and that I was ready for these. does anyone notice how piano teachers routinely lie? apparently Bach may not have written all of/these and occasionally they don't have a certain characteristic Bach melancholy and structural ease/inevitability, but they're lovely nonetheless. my teacher likes and teaches from this edition and with virtual lessons, it's super important to be on the same page. fingering suggestions make sense. intermediate level I think [doesn't say on the book]. I thought these would be a little easier than they turned out to be for me. There are almost no chords in either the left or right hands in any of the pieces, but it is the highly syncopated nature of music that is one challenge; that and adding in ornaments while maintaining rhythmic integrity while keeping things delightful - as opposed to heavy-handed and graceless, like I play them. The mordents in Prelude 5 I found pretty much impossible to get the hang of. I wish I was as good as my teacher's average 11 year old student whom I've heard rip through some of these like chain saws take to saplings, but alas, I'm just a hopeless lumbering adult - I finally quit doing her recitals, just too humiliating - couldn't take it anymore.

Excellent edition.Thoughthe lighter printing is difficult to read.As in the extended trills and fingering.

I like these compositions. The composer deserves a medal. Really ingenious writing. I used them to take my fingers on a transcendental walk through the outer galaxies of imagination. 16/10

A must have for students and teacher

Love these little preludes. Nicely printed, fun to play.

very happy with the service you provide. solid.