Bach, J.S.: Well-Tempered Clavier I Fugue XXI in B-flat, BWV 866
I realized only after posting the last prelude that it marked a pretty significant milestone: all preludes from both books are finished! Only four fugues remain, unfortunately all of them massive and supremely difficult. Meanwhile, I've decided to dilute the intense and lengthy demystification process of these big final fugues with a few do-overs that were recorded during the early phase of this project, when it was an audio-only exercise.
The B-flat fugue from Book I has been a favorite since I worked it up the first time in March 2009. (Hard to believe it has been that long ago!) This is meat and potatoes Bach, with a Teutonic belly laugh of a subject and two jaunty countersubjects that tumble around each other for 48 bars. I had a lot of fun practicing it again and hope you enjoy it.