J.S. Bach - Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor, BWV 869

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor, BWV 869 Composed in 1722 Performed by Vladimir Feltsman (b. 1952) Recorded December 1992 at the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York 0:00 Prelude 7:37 Fugue Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor, BWV 869, serves as the culminating pair of Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier, completed around 1722 in Köthen. The prelude is unusually expansive and reflective, unfolding in a richly expressive style that suggests a summation of the emotional range explored throughout the collection. The fugue, one of Bach’s longest and most intricate for the keyboard, is built on a weighty subject that supports dense contrapuntal development and a powerful sense of finality. Together, they close Book I with a profound demonstration of Bach’s mastery of harmony, structure, and expressive depth across all keys.