Prelude BWV 999 for piano

About this work

Prelude BWV 999 is built from a compact gesture, yet it fills the musical space with ease. The same arpeggio pattern moves from chord to chord while the bass marks out the harmonic course. The work survives in a copy intended for lute; on the piano, it can retain the impression of a plucked instrument allowing the harmonies to resonate without weighing them down.

To hear the piece clearly, follow the bass rather than the right hand’s regular turning motion. The low notes announce changes of tension, harmonic sequences and the point where the phrase finally stops circling. A slight pull towards the dissonances is enough: accent every arpeggio and the prelude soon resembles a staircase climbed in wooden clogs.

At the keyboard, keep the hand flexible and the fingering stable. Practise without pedal first to control the connections, then add it sparingly and renew it with the harmony. The tempo must allow the chords to speak; evenness matters more than speed. Try playing the bass alone while singing the top note of each arpeggio: the form immediately becomes clearer.


What the document contains

a 3-page adaptation for piano;
a print-ready PDF;
a separate MIDI file for following the course of the piece.

The historical engraving was prepared by Jan Nieuwenhuizen for the Mutopia project and placed in the public domain. This piano version is provided by LesPartitions.info; it does not replace the lute source with which the work is historically associated.