Composer

:

Johann Pachelbel

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Fugue

Compose Date

:

before Apr 1706

Publication Date

:

1901

Average_duration

:

3:08

Johann Pachelbel's Prelude & Fugue in E minor, T. 228 is a baroque keyboard piece composed in the late 17th century. The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is believed to have been written sometime between 1680 and 1700. The piece consists of two movements, a prelude and a fugue, and is written for a solo keyboard instrument, most likely a harpsichord or organ. The prelude is a short, introductory piece that sets the mood for the fugue that follows. It is written in a slow, melancholic style, with a simple, repeating melody that is accompanied by a series of arpeggios and broken chords. The prelude is characterized by its use of suspensions and dissonances, which create a sense of tension and release throughout the piece. The fugue is a more complex and structured piece, consisting of a series of interweaving melodies that are played simultaneously. The fugue is written in a strict contrapuntal style, with each voice entering in turn and developing the main theme of the piece. The theme is a simple, four-note motif that is repeated throughout the fugue in various forms and keys. The fugue is divided into three main sections, each of which develops the theme in a different way. The first section is characterized by its use of imitation, with each voice entering in turn and repeating the theme in a slightly different way. The second section is more complex, with the theme being developed through a series of intricate counterpoint and chromatic harmonies. The final section is a recapitulation of the main theme, with all the voices coming together in a grand finale. Overall, Pachelbel's Prelude & Fugue in E minor, T. 228 is a beautiful and complex piece of baroque keyboard music. It is characterized by its use of suspensions, dissonances, and intricate counterpoint, and is a testament to Pachelbel's skill as a composer. The piece has been performed and recorded by many musicians over the years and remains a popular work in the baroque keyboard repertoire.

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