Analysis of Bach’s Forty-Eight Preludes & Fugues, Book II

From the Preface:
What Schumann said of J. S. Bach was certainly true: ” Music owes almost as great a debt to him as a religion owes to its founder.”

Nowhere in the whole range of music is there a collection of pieces standing on a level with the Forty-eight Preludes and Fugues. The First Part of the work (Nos. I.-XXIV.) was completed by Bach in 1722, while he was at Cöthen, and the Second Part was put together at Leipzig, a little over a score of years later, about 1742-1744.*

Very different from Handel, Bach rarely dated his works; but if reliable approximate data as regards the Second Part were not at hand, there is strong internal evidence that the pieces contained in it were written considerably later than those in the First Part. The aim and purpose of the “Forty-eight” may be summed up in a few words: (1) To prove that “Equal Temperament” was not only possible, but eminently desirable; (2) to provide a copious variety of pieces worthy of practice and study for Bach’s pupils.