Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 852

The Prelude and Fugue in E 'major, BWV 852', is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the seventh prelude and fugue in the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer.

Analysis

Prelude

The prelude is 70 measures long, and consists of three sections:

The first section begins from the first measure and lasts until 10. It is a short toccata, mainly made of energetic semiquaver movements, with the ending two measures made of demisemiquavers. It establishes the tonic key, presents theme I, and ends on the dominant.
The second section starts at m. 10, and ends at m. 25. It is a chorale, in the style of four-part harmony, introducing theme II.
The third section starts at m. 25 and lasts until the end. It is a four-voice double fugue, and the first subject is introduced in the alto, second subject in the bass. This section is three times as long as the other two sections together.

This prelude is unique among the 48 preludes of The Well-Tempered Clavier because it already includes a fully developed fugue. It may originally have been conceived for
organ.

Fugue

The fugue is 37 measures long and has three voices. Its light style contrasts strongly with the prelude.