---
product_id: 1610672
title: "The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music)"
price: "C$1504"
currency: NIO
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.ni/products/1610672-the-well-tempered-clavier-books-i-and-ii-complete-dover
store_origin: NI
region: Nicaragua
---

# Complete Bach-Gesellschaft edition 48 preludes & fugues 208 pages of standard notation The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music)

**Price:** C$1504
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎹 Unlock Bach’s genius—play the classics that shaped musical history!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music)
- **How much does it cost?** C$1504 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ni](https://www.desertcart.ni/products/1610672-the-well-tempered-clavier-books-i-and-ii-complete-dover)

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## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Precision Layout:** 208 pages of clear, standard notation designed for seamless practice and performance.
- • **Endorsed by Legends:** Nadia Boulanger’s must-study collection—join the ranks of serious pianists worldwide.
- • **Master the Full Spectrum:** 48 preludes and fugues spanning all major and minor keys—your ultimate classical challenge.
- • **Timeless Rite of Passage:** Elevate your technique and musical sensibility with the definitive keyboard masterpiece.
- • **Authentic Bach Experience:** Includes both Kirnberger and Altnichol manuscripts for the most comprehensive edition.

## Overview

The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II (Dover Classical Piano Music) is a complete edition featuring 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys, presented in the authoritative Bach-Gesellschaft edition. Spanning 208 pages of standard notation, this volume offers both Kirnberger and Altnichol manuscript versions, making it an indispensable resource for serious pianists seeking to master Bach’s foundational keyboard works.

## Description

The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music) [Bach, Johann Sebastian] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music)

Review: sine qua non - Nadia Boulanger said that every musician should study The Well-Tempered Clavier. I value Boulanger's opinion, so that is exactly what I did. In this edition, where the manuscript by Kirnberger (Bach's student) contradicts the manuscript by Altnichol (Bach's son-in-law), both versions are presented. Czerny's edition, on the other hand, merely follows the Altnichol manuscript. Here are some of my random thoughts on the WTC: --You're probably familiar with the Bach-Gounod masterpiece. Did you know that that was a class assignment when Gounod was a student at the Paris Conservatory? I'm curious about what the other students wrote. --Sometimes experts disagree. In the C major fugue in Book II, the coda starts at measure 68 according to Keller and measure 80 according to Altschuler. --Bach, forever the symbolist, writes 24 entries of the subject in the first fugue in Book I. He uses all 12 semitones in the subject in the last fugue in Book I. --If you collect pungent dissonances, like I do, you might be interested in this one: the f minor prelude Book II has a French sixth in ms. 27 and a German sixth in ms. 55. The f# minor prelude has a French sixth in ms. 28. If you can find any more augmented sixth chords, please write back. --Someone expressed doubts that the d minor Toccata and Fugue is by Bach, since the subject is answered in the sub-dominant. But the same thing is true in the g# minor fugue in Book I. --Ravel wrote a piano piece in which the first section presents a theme, a second section presents another theme, and the third section restates both themes in quodlibet. I wonder if he got the idea from the Eb major prelude in Book I. --When I was in high school, a fellow student commented that the D major fugue in Book I wasn't very fugal. I wondered if there was something fugal about the piece which she was overlooking. Apparently not, because the printed commentary says the same thing. --The c#m fugue in Book I starts out slow, with long note values. That creates a somber mood, but it could get tiring after a while. Bach probably realized that, so that could be why he wrote a faster countermelody in measure 35 and another one in measure 49. In the B major fugue in Book II, he adds a countermelody in measure 28, and probably for the same reason. --Ever heard of the Golden Proportion? The number .616 has been alleged to have magical powers. Mozart starts most of his development sections at the .616 point from the start and his recapitulation sections ..616 from the end. But the a minor prelude in Book II is divided into two equal repeated sections. So Bach must not have gone for that sort of thing. Of the books on the subject which I have read, I would recommend Keller (B002JAWQYM) over Ledbetter (0300178956), Ledbetter over Altschuler (0316035297), and Altschuler over Kirkpatrick (0300030584).
Review: Indispensable for serious pianists! - This is the great, rite-of-passage music for keyboard players, the most greatness you'll ever find in one keyboard volume, with so much richness and depth, increasing technique and sensibility. Dover's edition has terrific layout and price, as advertised, but is not as durable as one might hope. After twenty years of hauling it around and playing from it every day, you'll need to have it rebound.

## Features

- Includes 48 Preludes And Fugues
- In All Major And Minor Keys
- Bach-Gesellschaft Edition
- Standard Notation
- 208 Pages

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #242,800 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #243 in Opera & Classical Songbooks #808 in Piano Songbooks #870 in Piano & Keyboards |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 382 Reviews |

## Images

![The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rlfD4L9IL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ sine qua non
*by T***N on May 16, 2016*

Nadia Boulanger said that every musician should study The Well-Tempered Clavier. I value Boulanger's opinion, so that is exactly what I did. In this edition, where the manuscript by Kirnberger (Bach's student) contradicts the manuscript by Altnichol (Bach's son-in-law), both versions are presented. Czerny's edition, on the other hand, merely follows the Altnichol manuscript. Here are some of my random thoughts on the WTC: --You're probably familiar with the Bach-Gounod masterpiece. Did you know that that was a class assignment when Gounod was a student at the Paris Conservatory? I'm curious about what the other students wrote. --Sometimes experts disagree. In the C major fugue in Book II, the coda starts at measure 68 according to Keller and measure 80 according to Altschuler. --Bach, forever the symbolist, writes 24 entries of the subject in the first fugue in Book I. He uses all 12 semitones in the subject in the last fugue in Book I. --If you collect pungent dissonances, like I do, you might be interested in this one: the f minor prelude Book II has a French sixth in ms. 27 and a German sixth in ms. 55. The f# minor prelude has a French sixth in ms. 28. If you can find any more augmented sixth chords, please write back. --Someone expressed doubts that the d minor Toccata and Fugue is by Bach, since the subject is answered in the sub-dominant. But the same thing is true in the g# minor fugue in Book I. --Ravel wrote a piano piece in which the first section presents a theme, a second section presents another theme, and the third section restates both themes in quodlibet. I wonder if he got the idea from the Eb major prelude in Book I. --When I was in high school, a fellow student commented that the D major fugue in Book I wasn't very fugal. I wondered if there was something fugal about the piece which she was overlooking. Apparently not, because the printed commentary says the same thing. --The c#m fugue in Book I starts out slow, with long note values. That creates a somber mood, but it could get tiring after a while. Bach probably realized that, so that could be why he wrote a faster countermelody in measure 35 and another one in measure 49. In the B major fugue in Book II, he adds a countermelody in measure 28, and probably for the same reason. --Ever heard of the Golden Proportion? The number .616 has been alleged to have magical powers. Mozart starts most of his development sections at the .616 point from the start and his recapitulation sections ..616 from the end. But the a minor prelude in Book II is divided into two equal repeated sections. So Bach must not have gone for that sort of thing. Of the books on the subject which I have read, I would recommend Keller (B002JAWQYM) over Ledbetter (0300178956), Ledbetter over Altschuler (0316035297), and Altschuler over Kirkpatrick (0300030584).

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Indispensable for serious pianists!
*by M***1 on October 3, 2013*

This is the great, rite-of-passage music for keyboard players, the most greatness you'll ever find in one keyboard volume, with so much richness and depth, increasing technique and sensibility. Dover's edition has terrific layout and price, as advertised, but is not as durable as one might hope. After twenty years of hauling it around and playing from it every day, you'll need to have it rebound.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent book
*by A***M on May 4, 2023*

Wonderful presentation and the music can be read clearly. Spine's a bit stiff, as it would be for any book, and I have a bit of trouble keeping it still against the music desk without using a clip, but that's a minor detail that doesn't affect my rating.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music)
- Ludwig Van Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas Volume 1 (Nos. 1-15)
- Ludwig Van Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas Volume 2 (Nos. 16-32)

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*Store origin: NI*
*Last updated: 2026-02-17*