The Affects in the Preludes and Fugues from WTC Book Two. By Keith Hill and Marianne Ploger © 2003 Click here for a Musical Example We have provided you with a kick start into the business of thinking about the affects with the following affect analysis of the first seven preludes and fugues from JS Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, Book Two. We have also included a possible vignette or scenario because we have found that it is vastly easier to hold an image of a scene and the feelings that go with it than to hold 4 words in your head while trying to perform. The words are just words. The vignette is poetic. That is why inventing your own vignette is extremely important. For your music making to be entirely yours, it must come from you. Our purpose for publishing this analysis is that it is just a model for what to do. Make your own analysis and vignettes and "act" them while playing music and your music will come alive...especially if you are using all the communication techniques. We have analyzed all 24 preludes and fugues but we are showing only the first seven, because, as we have said, to provide you with a model. It is not a replacement for you doing your own thinking. 1. Prelude in C Spiritual- Curious and Affirming Mental- Sure Emotional- Aroused Physical- Powerful Possible Vignette When informed of the likely and possible dangers of a certain action, you are even more sure that what you are feeling is righteous which give you confidence in your power to prevail. Fuge in C Spiritual- Forthright Mental- Focused Emotional- Quibbling Physical- Surging Possible Vignette Once having set out on your quest, your feelings of misgiving argue with the intent of your purpose, and all the while, you are steadily moving forward toward your quest. 2. Prelude in c Spiritual- Vacillating Mental- Willful Emotional- Troubled Physical- Measured Possible Vignette You were totally convinced that what you were doing was the right thing so by the exercise of your will you overcame your misgivings and move ahead determined to pace it out till the end. Like when you were told to take a class but you weren't convinced it was going to be interesting but you decide to stick to it anyway. Fuge in c Spiritual- Resolved Mental- Explanatory Emotional- Reluctant Physical- Inevitable Possible Vignette You are about to do an interview for a job which you are not totally sure you want but you need so you rationalize to yourself about the pros and cons knowing that no matter what happens, if you are offered the position, you will be taking it. 3. Prelude in C# Spiritual- Delighted Mental- Anticipatory Emotional- Soaring Physical- Breathless Turns out the new boss (to continue from the above) is a real sweetheart and likes your work and can't wait to have you join the team...you are pickled tink. Fuge in C# Spiritual- Momentous Mental- Carrying Emotional- Radical Physical- Snappy Aware of the importance of your new status, you are already working out powerfully innovative ideas that are popping into your imagination. 4. Prelude in c# Spiritual- Endurance Mental- Solid Assurance Emotional- Heaving Physical- Suffering Pain You imagine how Jesus must have felt on his way to his crucifixion because you can empathize with his feeling of a job well done yet which caused his inevitable dismissal. Fuge in c# Spiritual- Free Mental- Turbulent Emotional- Release Physical- Spinning You are out of time and are trying to think quickly and because you know exactly what you are doing you feel you can just let go and it all works. 5. Prelude in D Spiritual- Elation Mental- Reasoned Emotional- Joy Physical- Vigor You had every reason to know you were right something and the fact that someone close to you affirmed you feelings and chose to accompany you makes you feel wonderful. Fuge in D Spiritual- Emphatic Mental- Serene Emotional- Willing to Accept Responsibility Physical- Insistent You are resolved in your course of action and mentally calm because it was you who decided to solve a given problem, because you know you have the chutzpah to persist to the end. 6. Prelude in d Spiritual- Encouraging Mental- Certain Emotional- Excited Physical- Running You are swimming or running and are really hyped up about a problem you feel certain you can solve but you are giving yourself a pep talk anyway. Fuge in d Spiritual- Cautioning Mental- Focused Emotional- Anticipating Physical- Intense You see an accident up ahead and you realize you need to really pay attention because other people are panicking so you take pains to calm yourself so as not to go into chicken vision.