Bach's Sonic Tapestry

There is a reason why good teachers insist their pupils study Bach. Every note counts as with no other composer.

I’ve played some Bach in my time . . . but it is fair to say that he has never been front and centre in my repertoire. Until now . . .

When his 2020-2021 season was cancelled due to the pandemic, distinguished pianist Robert Silverman decided to embark on a mega-project—the entire first volume of Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, one of the finest monuments of keyboard repertoire in the Western world.

Bach’s Sonic Tapestry—The Well-Tempered Clavier of 1722 traces the author’s two-year journey as he studied, learned, performed, taught, and recorded the forty-eight compositions that he came to revere.

Written in an informal yet informative manner and sprinkled with moments of lightheartedness, this reader-friendly study is comprised of three segments:

Part I – Prelude: For Bach enthusiasts or those who have tried without success to enjoy his music, this section introduces various facets of the music’s background.

Part II – Interlude: The author’s answers to questions posed by piano students and teachers at various recitals and workshops over the years.

Part III — Fugue: Delves deeper into the critical issues the author has learned about each piece, including essential aspects for performers to consider when studying or interpreting them.

Bach’s Sonic Tapestry—The Well-Tempered Clavier of 1722 will help readers appreciate this cornerstone of classical music and guide those learning to play these astonishing twenty-four preludes and fugues.