Johann Sebastian Bach, Wilhelm Kempff - The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 Excerpts

rlmusgrove

Review by Ramsey Musgrove

The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 Excerpts – A Masterclass in Baroque Brilliance (and Wilhelm Kempff’s Fingertips) If you’ve ever wanted to hear what happens when a German composer, a legendary pianist, and a recording team from Deutsche Grammophon lock themselves in a studio for too long, this is your album. Released in 1977, The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 Excerpts by Johann Sebastian Bach—performed by Wilhelm Kempff—isn’t just classical music; it’s like an intellectual espresso shot for your ears. Sure, the genre says "Classical," but let’s be real: this is Baroque with a capital B. And oh boy, does it deliver. Let’s dive into two tracks that stuck with me because they’re basically unforgettable. First up: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846. If you’ve never heard it before, congrats—you’re about to have your mind gently rearranged. The prelude feels like someone took all the calmest moments of your life and stitched them together into four minutes of pure serenity. It’s simple yet profound, kind of like finding out pizza exists for the first time. You don’t know why it works so well, but dang, it does. Then comes the fugue, which is where things get spicy. This isn’t just notes on a page—it’s a conversation between voices, each one trying to outwit the other while staying perfectly polite. Kempff plays it with such clarity that even if you don’t understand counterpoint, you’ll still feel smarter just listening. Now onto my second favorite, Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847, because who doesn’t love a little drama? The prelude here is moody as heck, like Bach decided he needed to write something brooding after watching too many soap operas (if those existed back then). It builds tension without ever fully exploding, leaving you hanging like, “Yo, can we resolve already?” Spoiler alert: the fugue delivers. It’s intricate, edgy, and somehow comforting all at once, like wearing a leather jacket inside a library. Kempff nails it—not too fast, not too slow, just right. Goldilocks would approve. What makes this album stand out isn’t just Bach’s genius or Kempff’s virtuosity—it’s the whole package. The sleeve art by Jules Fehr looks like something you’d frame and hang above your couch to impress guests. And props to Klaus Hiemann, the engineer, whose work ensures every keystroke sounds crisp enough to make audiophiles swoon. Even the liner notes by Kempff himself are worth reading, though honestly, I skimmed them while pretending to look sophisticated. So yeah, this album isn’t just music—it’s an experience. Listening to it feels like stepping into a time machine that takes you straight to Europe in the 18th century, except instead of smallpox and bad teeth, you get divine harmonies and impeccable production quality. Final thought? If aliens ever invade Earth and demand proof of human intelligence, I’m handing them this record. Either they’ll be impressed, or they’ll politely ask us to turn it off because fugues aren’t their thing. Either way, mission accomplished.

Download Johann Sebastian Bach, Wilhelm Kempff - The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 Excerpts
Artist: Johann Sebastian Bach, Wilhelm Kempff
Album: The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 Excerpts
Rating: 3.0

Table of Contents

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Filename: johann-sebastian-bach-wilhelm-kempff-the-well-tempered.zip
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Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Prelude And Fugue No. 15 In G Major, BWV 860
Prelude And Fugue No. 17 In A Flat Major, BWV 862
Prelude And Fugue No. 16 In G Minor, BWV 861
Prelude And Fugue No. 3 In C Sharp Major, BWV 848
Prelude And Fugue No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 851
Prelude And Fugue No. 8 In E Flat Minor, BWV 853
Prelude And Fugue No. 21 In B Flat Major, BWV 866
Prelude And Fugue No. 5 In D Major, BWV 850
Prelude And Fugue No. 22 In B Flat Minor, BWV 867
Prelude And Fugue No. 7 In E Flat Major, BWV 852
Prelude And Fugue No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 847
Prelude And Fugue No. 1 In C Major, BWV 846

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Catalog Numbers

  • 3300 807
  • 2530 807, 2530-807

Labels

Deutsche Grammophon

Listen online

  • escuchar en línea
  • lyssna på nätet
  • ascolta in linea
  • écouter en ligne
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • lytte på nettet
  • online luisteren
  • ouvir online
  • online anhören

Formats

  • Cassette
  • Stereo
  • Dolby B
  • Vinyl
  • LP

Companies

RoleCompany
Phonographic Copyright (p)Polydor International GmbH
Lacquer Cut AtPhonodisc GmbH
Manufactured ByPolydor Ltd.
Distributed ByPolydor Ltd.
Printed ByMacNeill Press Ltd.
Made ByMacNeill Press Ltd.
Copyright (c)Wilhelm Kempff

Credits

RoleCredit
Composed ByJohann Sebastian Bach
EngineerKlaus Hiemann
Illustration [Cover IllustrationJules Fehr
Pencil Drawing]Jules Fehr
PianoWilhelm Kempff
ProducerDr. Rudolf Werner
Recording SupervisorDr. Rudolf Werner
Sleeve NotesWilhelm Kempff

Notes

  • Notes in English and German
  • Ⓟ 1977 Polydor International GmbH
  • Made and printed in West Germany
  • LABELS:
  • "Made in England" in rim text
  • "℗ 1977 Polydor Int.GmbH"
  • SLEEVE:
  • Laminated on front and back
  • "Manufactured in England" on front
  • "℗ 1976 Polydor International GmbH"
  • "© 1976 Wilhelm Kempff"
  • "Record manufactured and distributed in the United Kingdom by
  •  Polydor Limited, 17-19 Stratford Place, London, W1N 0BL."
  • "Sleeve printed and made in England by MacNeill Press Ltd."
  • Sleeve notes in German, English and French on back
  • CATALOG NUMBERS:
  • 2530 807 on sleeve
  • 2530-807 on labels

Barcodes

  • Other (Rights information): D.P.
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout side A - stamped): 2530 807 S 1 A/1 3 20 2 5 2 [A/1 is hand-etched]
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout side B - stamped): 2530 807 S 2 B/1 3 20 6 5 2 [B/1 is hand-etched]
  • Other (Corresponding cassette Category, on back of sleeve): 3300 807

About Johann Sebastian Bach, Wilhelm Kempff

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany. A prolific German composer and organist, his sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together the strands of the baroque genre and brought it to its ultimate maturity. Although he introduced no new forms, he enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, a control of harmonic and motivic organisation from the smallest to the largest scales, and the adaptation of rhythms and textures from abroad, particularly Italy and France. Many people consider him to be the greatest Baroque composer, and one of the greatest composers of all time. Revered for their intellectual depth, technical command and artistic beauty, J.S. Bach's works include the Brandenburg concertos, the keyboard suites and partitas, the Mass in B Minor, the St. Matthew Passion, The Musical Offering, The Art of Fugue and a large number of cantatas, of which about 220 survive. He died on July 28, 1750. Some of his sons also became composers - , , and .

Real Name

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

Name Vars

  • A. M. Bach
  • B-A-C-H
  • BACH
  • Bacg'
  • Bach
  • Bach (J.S.)
  • Bach J. - S.
  • Bach J. S.
  • Bach J.-S.
  • Bach J.S.
  • Bach Jean-Sébastien
  • Bach Johann Sebastian
  • Bach Magnificat
  • Bach Violinkonzert
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  • Bach,
  • Bach, J S
  • Bach, J. S.
  • Bach, J.,S.
  • Bach, J.S
  • Bach, J.S.
  • Bach, JS
  • Bach, JSB
  • Bach, Johann Sebastian
  • Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
  • Bach-
  • Bach. J. S.
  • Bach. J.S.
  • Bach. Johann Sebastian
  • Bach?
  • Bachas
  • Bachl
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  • Beethoven
  • E. Bach
  • E.Bach
  • G. S. Bach
  • G.-S. Bach
  • G.S. Bach
  • Giov. Seb. Bach
  • Giovanni Sebastiano Bach
  • I. Bach
  • I. S. Bach
  • I. S. Bachas
  • I.M. Bach
  • I.S. Bach
  • I.S.Bach
  • Iohann Sebastian Bach
  • J . S . Bach
  • J .S .Bach
  • J .S. Bach
  • J B Bach
  • J Beck
  • J S Bach
  • J S Bach
  • J S Bach:
  • J S. Bach
  • J, S. Bach
  • J,-S. Bach
  • J-S Bach
  • J-S-Bach
  • J-S. Bach
  • J-S.Bach
  • J. - S. Bach
  • J. -S. Bach
  • J. B Bach
  • J. B. Bach
  • J. Bach
  • J. Bahs
  • J. C. Bach
  • J. C. F. Bach
  • J. S . Bach
  • J. S .Bach
  • J. S Bach
  • J. S, Bach
  • J. S.
  • J. S. Bach
  • J. S. Babc
  • J. S. Bach
  • J. S. Bach ?
  • J. S. Bach,
  • J. S. Bach, Goldberg Variations
  • J. S. Bachas
  • J. S. Bachs
  • J. S. Back
  • J. S. Bah
  • J. S. Bahs
  • J. S. Basch
  • J. S. bach
  • J. S. ÐÃÏ
  • J. S.. Bach
  • J. S.Bach
  • J. S: Bach
  • J. Seb. Bach
  • J. Sebastian Bach
  • J. Sebastien Bach
  • J. Sebastián Bach
  • J.- S. Bach
  • J.-.S. Bach
  • J.-B. Bach
  • J.-Ch. Bach
  • J.-S Bach
  • J.-S. Bach
  • J.-S. Bach/
  • J.-S. bach
  • J.-S.Bach
  • J.-Sebastian Bach
  • J.. Bach
  • J.A. Bach
  • J.B. Bach
  • J.B.Bach
  • J.Bach
  • J.C. Bach
  • J.C.Bach
  • J.H. Bach
  • J.L. Bach
  • J.S Bach
  • J.S Bach
  • J.S\
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Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that Wilhelm Kempff, the legendary pianist behind *The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 Excerpts*, once said he felt like he was "conversing with God" while playing Bach's music? This album, released in 1977 on Deutsche Grammophon, captures that divine connection. Each track is a masterclass in Baroque precision and emotion. Interestingly, the cover art was hand-drawn by Jules Fehr, adding a personal touch to this timeless masterpiece. It’s not just music—it’s history pressed into vinyl.