J.S. Bach's Prelude and Fugue BWV 548 seems to be a very long and some points in time monotonous piece of music. I mean, I like it, but it just seems to keep going and going. It is 12:51 long. It is very dissonant, played with several reed pipes of the organ and fairly loud. The low bass is actively involved, giving it a very menacing, dark quality. There are many arpeggios and constantly running notes in both the Prelude and the Fugue. What is interesting is after all this dark, constant, minor commotion, both parts of this work end on one long chord in a major key. This is known as a Piccardy Third, and Bach's usage of them is quite effective in resolving both parts of the piece. Besides it being rather long, I did like this piece.
2 comments:
To paraphrase the exchange between Mozart and the Emperor in Amadeus, where would you stop the fugue to make it shorter? And what did you like about the piece?
In my opinion it couldn't be long enough. . . . . but I suppose the best music leaves you wanting more.
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