GRACE 8/8: Everyone else keeping up ok? I just did number 8. Wow that prelude was long, especially with the repeats, but it gives you plenty of time to get into the key signature. That prelude theme was pretty complex, and the other hand was more of a counterpoint than an accompaniment. A really interesting one. And the fugue today was rough! Whenever the rhythms get broken up that way within a hand, it’s challenging for me to get all of my fingers to cooperate.
Yesterday’s prelude reminded me of Jesu joy of man’s desiring. I looked up the dates, and Jesu was written in 1723 (vs WTCI in ’22 and WTCII in ’42). I seem to recall another Jesu-like piece from the first book or that was a sinfonia, and whenever I notice those similarities I wonder if he’s just trying with these ideas until he finds a way of using it that he really likes and does a big piece using it. Since WTCII comes later, though, maybe he’s just still not done with the idea (or it’s not done with him, or never will be). So that’s what I think about while I play preludes I guess. 😆