Michael Houstoun in recital at the University of Auckland Music Theatre performs the Preludes and Fugues Nos 13-24 of Book 2 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 Two
F sharp major
Prelude: Gracious wife
Fugue: Hearty husband
F sharp minor
Prelude: Poignancy
Fugue: Reality of Sorrow
G major
Prelude: Water
Fugue: Crenellations
G minor
Prelude: Cortege
Fugue: Fatal declamation
A flat major
Prelude: Eloquence
Fugue: Human perfection
G sharp minor
Prelude: Petulant tale
Fugue: Cul-de-sac
A major
Prelude: Pastoral blessing
Fugue: Playful happiness
A minor
Prelude: Maybe...maybe not
Fugue: Angels of Destruction
B flat major
Prelude: Lyric pleasure
Fugue: Persuasive conversation
B flat minor
Prelude: Narration of Sorrow
Fugue: Day of Judgement
B major
Prelude: Be of good cheer
Fugue: Eternal aspiration
B minor
Prelude: Quandary
Fugue: Mocking dance
Recorded by RNZ Concert in the University of Auckland Music Theatre, May 2017
Producer/Engineer: Tim Dodd
