Michael Houstoun in recital at the University of Auckland Music Theatre performs the Preludes and Fugues Nos 1-12 of Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach
As Michael Houstoun has explained, preparing to play the 48 preludes and 48 fugues involves a very deep delving into the essential character of each one. This has led him to giving them all short descriptions - or 'pseudo-titles', as he calls them. He offers these as a possible spur to a listener's imagination but stresses that they need not be taken as definitive or even too seriously. With his kind permission, we give them here.
Book One
C major
Prelude: Essence – Purity
Fugue: Awakening
C minor
Prelude: Grim determination
Fugue: Adamant
C sharp major
Prelude: Sylph dance
Fugue: Sunshine
C sharp minor
Prelude: Lamentoso
Fugue: Omens
D major
Prelude: Dragonfly
Fugue: Graduation
D minor
Prelude: Night ride
Fugue: Creeping anxiety
E flat major
Prelude: Splendour
Fugue: Surprise
E flat/D sharp minor
Prelude: The Weight of Sorrow
Fugue: Legend
E major
Prelude: Pastoral charm
Fugue: Giddyup
E minor
Prelude: Scena
Fugue: Storm
F major
Prelude: Scamper
Fugue: Passepied
F minor
Prelude: River of Despond
Fugue: Thou Shalt Not
Recorded by RNZ Concert in the University of Auckland Music Theatre, May 2017
Producer/Engineer: Tim Dodd
