The famous C minor fugue near the beginning of the Well-Tempered Clavier expresses the emotions of sadness, loneliness, and melancholy, according to harpsichordist Masato Suzuki. Suzuki provides a sensitive performance with attention to articulate detail in the fugue subject.

This, naturally, leads Christian and Alex into a comparison with race cars.

But, more straightforwardly, this fugue is part of the large journey that is the whole two books of preludes and fugues. The first prelude is a walk in the garden; its fugue is a hopeful step forward. But the following prelude in C minor is intrepid and fearless, boldly marching out the door. So, this fugue is when we finally run onto the road, with all of the uneasiness this entails. Explore with us how these first four parts of the WTC work together, what a countersubject (or even a second countersubject) is, and how this fugue embodies the very word root of "fugue" (to fly, flee).

Fugue in C minor as played by Masato Suzuki for the Netherlands Bach Society

Playlist with the entire Well-Tempered Clavier

Vivid and subtle, this cantata follows the spiritual journey of the soprano soloist who carries the weight of sin on her shoulders. The journey is one from darkness into light, and our moment, sent in by listener Dave, comes at the cathartic middle movement, where hope is found in patience.

Soprano Julia Doyle delivers a heartfelt rendition of this stirring cantata, one of Bach's most openly emotional. We discuss how Bach's choice to make this a solo cantata is a masterstroke in itself, and we talk about how thrilling it is when Bach (and other artists/creators, even video game developers!) allow their works to be driven by the story and characters of the text, rather than trying to force the work into a predetermined structure. The music is subservient to the emotional journey that is the heart of the text. This, we think, is what gives Bach's cantatas and passions their magic.

Aria "Tief gebückt" from this cantata, Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (BWV 199), as performed by Julia Doyle and the Netherlands Bach Society

Companion video by the Netherlands Bach Society: interview with soprano Julia Doyle

On the last note of Mozart's "Kyrie eleison" in his requiem, he chooses a stark and intense open fifth instead of a triad. What happens when a composer finishes...not correctly? Is this allowed?

When using old melodies which start and end on scale degree 3 (relative to major), Bach adapts this old Phrygian mode to his idiom, but this does create an unexpected ending. Even more surprising is the wild hellish chromaticism of the final passage leading up to the Phrygian ending of this "Kyrie" setting. Even by Bach's own standard, this chromatic passage goes beyond.

Leo van Doeselaar plays BWV 671 (the focus of this episode and the text on the Holy Ghost) for the Netherlands Bach Society

BWV 669 (text on God the Father)

BWV 670 (text on Christ the Son)

Mozart Requiem II. Kyrie (excerpt): Public Domain recording