Prelude and Fugue
Baroque works
Definition
A paired composition consisting of a free-form prelude followed by a structured fugue. The prelude typically explores a single texture or figuration while the fugue presents a subject in imitative counterpoint. Central to the Baroque organ and keyboard traditions, the pairing was perfected by J.S. Bach in works for both organ and harpsichord.
Historical Context
The prelude-and-fugue pairing evolved from the practice of organists improvising a brief introduction before a composed fugue. Buxtehude and other North German organists developed expansive multi-section preludes that alternated free and fugal passages. Bach codified the form as a two-movement structure in both his organ works (BWV 531–552) and The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Works (30)
- Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 551 Key A minor
- Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 531 Key C major
- Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 549 Key C minor
- Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 533 Key E minor
- Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550 Key G major
- Prelude and Fugue in A major, BWV 536 Key A major
- Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Key A minor
- Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 545 Key C major
- Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Key D major
- Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 534 Key F minor
- Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541 Key G major
- Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 535 Key G minor
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 539 Key D minor
- Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 Key B minor
- Prelude and Fugue in E minor (Wedge), BWV 548 Key E minor
- Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 547 Key C major
- Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 Key C minor
- Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major (St. Anne), BWV 552 Key E♭ major
- Prelude and Fugue in A minor, WoO 9 Key A minor
- Prelude and Fugue in G minor, WoO 10 Key G minor
- Prelude and Fugue in B major, Op. 7 No. 1 Key B major
- Prelude and Fugue in F minor, Op. 7 No. 2 Key F minor
- Prelude and Fugue in G minor, Op. 7 No. 3 Key G minor
- Prelude and Fugue in A-flat major, Op. 36 No. 1 Key A♭ major
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, Op. 36 No. 2 Key B♭ minor
- Prelude and Fugue in C major, Op. 36 No. 3 Key C major
- Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op. 7
- Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
- Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Op. 37 No. 1 Key C minor
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Op. 37 No. 3 Key D minor