Ex. 10-1: Prelude

No. 22 from Book I of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, compiled around 1722.

The prelude is in the style of an arioso — slow, lyrical, and song-like. It is paired with a fugue, and that fugue is one of only two five-voice fugues in Book I. The other is No. 4, in C-sharp minor.

Beethoven transcribed the prelude and fugue for string quintet around 1801–02 as a counterpoint exercise. Villa-Lobos later arranged the prelude for cello ensemble.

Bach wrote the whole collection to teach. On the title page, he said it was for young musicians eager to learn, and something for skilled players to enjoy. Later composers treasured it: Schumann told young musicians to make the Well-Tempered Clavier their "daily bread," and Chopin's 24 Preludes, which run through all the keys, follow Bach's example.

From the album J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books I & II by Sviatoslav Richter (2014)
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