Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 546

The Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546, combines two movements of similar length which complement one another even while differing sharply in style. The Prelude may have been written later than the fugue, around 1730, and demonstrates a richness in harmonic progression, rhythmic figuration, and expansive drama often found in Bach's later works.

The Fugue, by contrast, starts in an understated "allebreve" style, with a melodic yet somber theme. As Bach develops his subject and adds new material, the darkness begins to lift. The movement increasingly gathers momentum until it concludes with no less drama and majesty than the epic Prelude to which it was paired.