The magic of: “Prelude in C Minor BWV999” (J.S. Bach analysis)

So it's been a while, but finally I got to make a new full length Andynalysis video!
This one is a bit special, as it includes a studio performance of the Prelude that I recorded at LOFT studios Cologne in May this year.
Those who know the Prelude in C Minor BWV999 well, or read along attentively will notice that in the heat of the moment I played a few notes differently than on the original score. I chose not to get too upset about that however, as the changes don't really disturb the harmonic flow.
Thank you for watching and supporting this channel!

Piano recorded at LOFT Cologne and mixed & mastered at Koelner Tonstudio by Georg Bongartz
Performance, analysis and videography by Andy Janssen

Mic: Røde NT1a
Camera: Lumix G81M

[andynalysis]

Finally a new full-length episode! This one is a bit special, as it includes a studio performance that I recorded in May this year. In the heat of the moment I played a few notes differently than written on the original score, but I chose not to get too upset about it as the changes don't really interrupt the harmonic flow. ;-)
Thank you for watching and stay safe!

[gabbleratchet]

I’ve played this piece on guitar for so many years that it is truly odd to hear it on piano.

[Jimmy.Williams]

Great stuff thanks.

The Bb dim 7th at measure 27 seems to function as A7b9, is that why it is notated as II7/V (A is the II and D the V of Gm)?

Bb is the III of Gm, so wondering if it should be listed as III/V or II7/V.

Not arguing or anything, just trying to understand, as this is the "strangest" chord in this song. And Bach uses the diminished 7th chords in many crazy, interesting and confusing ways.

Thanks again, cheers!

[DavidCollier-dlud]

I learned this piece when is was 13 years old. I’m 54 now and picking it up again, it definitely takes you on a journey. I like your analysis, particularly the transitions between 3 keys starting in Cminor and ending in Gmajor. Excellent.

[tomlabooks]

I love it at the speed that you played it here. Why do ao many people play it much faster? How can we know what the “correct” speed is?

[ivanagajcanin]

Thanks so much great help for any pianist

[LiliVG]

Absolutely great analysis. It adds the structure to this lovely Bach prelude. Thank you

[rodrigocapra]

Thank you so much for your video. It really helped me to understand the piece better.

[yaelkatz]

dear Andy. this was really thrilling. i came across the piece just about a month ago and as soon as i started practicing i felt that there is something special - and started to analyze for myself and also found an article about the piece. but your explanations and the way you showed them on screen were really magnificent. thank you

[leventhatay]

Suppressive expression of the dominant chain

[evavillarreal]

Beautiful! Andy Thank you so much. It gives sense to what I have been studying. Greetings from Mexico.

[marcbloch]

Thank you very much for your analysis. I am about to study this piece and your comments greatly help my comprehension of this little jewel.

[ibrahimismail]

Bro looks like he's gonna kill me

[CarlosdeFrance]

Thanks a lot. I play it almost every day!

[mlf]

I’m learning this piece arranged for guitar, and I really enjoyed and appreciated your narrative of what’s going on! I understand just enough theory to be dangerous, but your analysis gives real purpose to all that language, both teaching me more and motivating me to learn more.

[Chimpy_Mc_Gibbon]

I'm so glad AI has become so advanced that we CAN ANALYSE m, usic in suych depth now.

[mrdjangofreeman]

Thank you so much, danke schön ! Very helpful for me as a true beginner. You have a new subscriber :-)

[netogarcia]

Thanks for this video, I learned a lot. Very well produced and the explanation is great. Greetings from Mexico :D

[SanderGrolleman]

I love this piece, thanks for sharing it! I only noticed that my version has a D in the bass at the 23rd bar and other slight harmonic differences here and there. How can this be?

[oneirdaathnaram]

This is a very neat and useful analysis. Thank you very much for the effort. It helps me memorizing it as I can crosscheck my view with your analysis.

Interesting that it's actually very even (I do not use the word "simple") in its harmonic architecture: I can basically follow one chord and one ostinato and some repeating patterns in every bar. But sadly enough, the way I am fingering it does not quite allow for simple repetition ...🥲

Vielen Dank für all die Arbeit und den Elan, ein derart gut ausgearbeitetes Video zu erstellen!