Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 549

In this early masterwork, the bold pedal cadenza at the beginning (using all three major reeds of the G.O.) introduces the main motif of the Prelude, which is imitated polyphonically in the manuals, with some strong repeated chords adding to the excitement. The insouciant fugue subject is played with in the manuals for a while, but finally appears in the pedal, with more of the repeated chords from the Prelude. A brilliant flourish on the manuals brings this fugue to a surprisingly sudden end. [5:22]