Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 891

The Prelude and Fugue in B♭ minor, BWV 891, is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the 22nd prelude and fugue in the second book of The Well-Tempered Clavier (WTC), a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. It was composed in 1738.^[1]

Prelude and fugue, played on a piano

Prelude

Prelude incipit

The prelude is in cut time and has 83 measures. It is made up mainly of eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes and whole notes.^[2]

Fugue

Fugue incipit

The fugue is in ³
₂ time and has 101 measures and four voices. It is made up mainly of eighth notes, half notes, dotted half notes, quarter notes, whole notes, and dotted whole notes.^[3] Glenn Gould said it is one of his favorite fugues, along with F♯ minor fugue, BWV 883, and E major fugue, BWV 878, also from the second book of The Well-Tempered Clavier.^[4]