Bach: Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 (Tariq Harb, guitar)

Here is an arrangement I did of the eternal and beautiful Prelude in C Major by J. S. Bach. The Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846, is the first prelude and fugue in the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a series of 48 preludes and fugues by the composer. An early version of the prelude, BWV 846A, is found in the Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.
I always wanted to play this prelude but have never found a convincing arrangement of it for guitar. So I decided to make my own and have decided to engrave it and to include all pertinent right and left-hand fingerings. I aimed to keep it as close as possible to the keyboard original while making it comfortable and idiomatic for the guitar.
You can find the score for purchase via my online store: tariqharb.com/...
I hope you enjoy it!
Guitar: Douglass Scott, traditional spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, 2009
Strings: Savarez, 510 CJ
Guitar support: Murata
Camera: Sony a6400
Mics used: RODE NT55 pair
www.tariqharb.com
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/ tariqharbmusic
Tariq Harb teaches at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada: www.concordia....
Online store: tariqharb.com/...

[@munda_music]

Bach's works translate so well onto the guitar, could be because he wrote so much lute work. Fantastic performance as always 👏

[@TeeHarb]

Yes! Many of his compositions have been originally conceived on the lute. Thank you kindly!

[@sergiodavila3263]

Fantastic!... The way you play every guitar piece makes me dream and not only that, my son is learning to love this beautiful music. Thanks for sharing your art and time.

[@TeeHarb]

Oh that's great! I'm glad you and your son are enjoying the music. Thank you!

[@wolfganggerts1362]

Wie oft hab ich daran geübt. So schön klang es bei mir leider nie! Herzlichen Dank!

[@DrJohn-rl9zg]

I play this on the piano, and I have listened to it played on harpsichord, etc. But the guitar brings out the beauty of the clavier, with the ability to vary the dynamics of volume. Magnificent my friend. You, no doubt, are making a tear form in Bach's eye.

[@themusiccovenant]

Legendary guitarist

[@PieroFassio]

Grazie maestro, per quello che offre a noi la tua arte.

[@TeeHarb]

Grazie mille!

[@AlexeiIgnatkovich]

Great! When you're expecting the note that will sound right now and then its accent is shfted in time so slightly... This makes me listen to this piece again and again

[@kavehh81]

You bring Bach back to life. Amazing.

[@TeeHarb]

Thanks Kaveh!

[@mrmikeh-nv7cq]

My favorite by Bach. Played so well. 🎵👌🎼🎹

[@SHANOCK123]

Every note played at the right time wit adequate intensity and proper volume, especially in those moments or passages of high tension makes the soul vibrate, the heart beat and the breath stop to feel the music the way his creator envisioned it when he was inspired. A great master executing this superb piece makes this moment a magnificent and gratifying pleasure. Thanks, Tariq.

[@TeeHarb]

My pleasure! I really appreciate your kind feedback. Thank you, Aldo!

[@paullakin7777]

Beautiful, inspiring, and so well played. Thank you.

[@jimkesselman4254]

Absolutely wonderful, Tariq! The classical guitar showcases this piece’s beauty for sure! ❤❤❤

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you! I think so too :)

[@elzelinakriek-breet3092]

I love this piece, so beautiful! Beautifully played.

[@juarezandrade7562]

Que interpretação maravilhosa dessa magnífica obra. Bravo estimado Maestro

[@TeeHarb]

Muito obrigado Juarez!

[@gretavanmeeteren412]

So magnificent! Thank you for sharing.

[@TeeHarb]

My pleasure! Thank you.

[@samehghaly8927]

Lovely MAESTRO 🎸 😍

[@breckmartin7882]

I think this is a really great arrangement with some wonderful solutions for the guitar -- and particularly useful as a reliable accompaniment for the Gounod Ave Maria and sopranos who sing in the higher keys like F. Great work. Ordered a copy and received it in 10 minutes! Thanks very much.

[@tinacarmody761]

That is beautiful. Thank you Tariq. 👏❤👏

[@TeeHarb]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@jonyplanter3305]

Excellent as always. I don't think that's the "standard" score, but maybe I'm wrong.

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you! Yes, some changes have been made since the low basses cannot be realized on a 6-string guitar in the key of C major.

[@whenifeellikeit]

Beautiful! Thank you!

[@obieobrien5883]

Beautiful!

[@lotharlundgren9509]

Excellent job! What a genius Bach was, eh?

[@TeeHarb]

Absolutely! Thank you 🙏

[@bzeliotis]

Great arrangement and playing!

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you!

[@ticovogt]

This is wonderful.

[@lukerom7486]

Amazing as always!!!

[@GuitareAlainBauer]

👏👏👏 Bravo !

[@kristiandelcantero]

Beautiful sensitivity and taste Tariq! looking forward to seeing you in concert

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you, Kristian! I thought I would see you at Guitare Alla Grande! We’ll meet in Toronto if you’ll be there.

[@luigirossetti4374]

Bellissimo

[@christianroux]

C'est toujours un plaisir de vous écouter Tariq vous m'avez manqué depuis tout ce temps ⌛ merci beaucoup....voilà

[@TeeHarb]

Merci beaucoup!

[@johnhirschfield831]

Amazed you played it mainly in the first position.

[@TeeHarb]

First, second and third!

[@bibianamelgarejo1011]

Thanks

[@RobertoMartinez-kv5tp]

Bravo Maestro Tariq. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you!

[@wimbronkhorst7382]

That was such a wonderful transcription, straight from the same key. Thank you for holding to the integrity of the piece! 😊😊

[@helio85384]

Congratulations!!!! Beautiful music and interpretation!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@tobiasnilsson8934]

Excellent!

[@griseldabulacio3879]

Simplementebellosuinterpretaccion mmmbendiones

[@Hiroshima49]

Terrific transcription in the original key

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you!

[@oleg.bojczuk]

Love this piece! Really great arrangement.

[@fabriceregnaut3540]

This is beautiful !

[@aidamarkiw]

Wonderful!

[@zacapa]

Beautiful ✅💯

[@StefanNiggl]

Excellent! 👏👏

[@anikeenkopavel3294]

Bach would be proud of such GREAT performing! Every note is in wright place, perfect control and dynamic!!! THANK you for sharing this Music! Please, say, what tempo are you playing?

[@Musicaparalaunion369]

A really beautiful and good job! thanks ! do you have the transcription for guitar to be shared?

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you kindly! You can always purchase it here: tariqharb.storenvy.com/collections/252479-all-products/products/36436114-bach-prelude-in-c-major-bwv-846-arr-harb

[@sepehrjafari5404]

💓

[@TheAtheist22]

You are an absolutely Great guitarist Mr Harb. Do you perform in concerts?

[@TeeHarb]

Thank you kindly. Yes, I do!

[@TheAtheist22]

@@TeeHarb Where? Got a website?

[@TeeHarb]

@@TheAtheist22 next concert is in Toronto, March 26 playing the Aranjuez concerto with the NYCO. And yes, my website is: tariqharb.com. Thanks!

[@TheAtheist22]

@@TeeHarb Thank you Mr Harb. Please continue to make the World a better place with your beautiful talent.

[@junjiesun0620]

❤❤good

[@claudioj.defigueiredo9870]

Sensacional!!!

[@andresrod5138]

What a nice move on measure 27 to go to 28.

[@marionjuettges6122]

Nice and slow flow. Not so complicated. I could do that.

[@manuelandrade1664]

E' maravilhosaaa

[@KMAlif11]

May I ask a question?? Are you improvising with scales??? If yes,are the scales same for acoustic guitar???

[@henkema22]

I's definetely just leave out the hammared-on C in measure 9 as it takes away the A and changes the overall arpeggiated sound... 0:31... same goes for the hammared-on F a couple of bars later at 0:56...

[@jeannouelvanleeuwen]

Beautiful, Raineri digitation?

[@TeeHarb]

That’s my own arrangement!

[@jeannouelvanleeuwen]

@@TeeHarb I will study your fingering, sounds so good, thank you . I was looking for perfection. I found the Ranieri the best one till now

[@manuelandrade1664]

Quero as notas dessa música!

[@robertoalves8783]

Como posso adquirir a partitura dessa sua maravilhosa versão- BWV 846?

[@TeeHarb]

Obrigado! Da minha loja online: tariqharb.storenvy.com/collections/252479-all-products/products/36436114-bach-prelude-in-c-major-bwv-846-arr-harb

[@arthursteenkist2595]

Fantastic arrangement for classical guitar and beautiful interpretation!! It is said that Bach got inspiration for this prelude by Johann Kuhnau's lovely prelude in G (who was Bach's predecessor at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig). The Kuhnau prelude has been transcribed to guitar by Frederick Noad if I remember well. Here's a beautiful piano rendition of the Kuhnau prelude kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5bHlmxsdrWMntE

[@DavidRubertone]

You skipped the best chord: the CmMaj 7/G. I use the open B string so it rings with the C on the G string. You went from the F#o7 (where you revoiced from Bach) straight to the Abo7. I do it as accomp for Ave Maria so skipping a chord is not an option. I also do alot of 8ve readjustments to get the first 2 notes to ring together as long as possible, which I view as an essential motive of the piece. For ex. D7/C in the beginning can be done at the 7th fret with the open D and then put down the F# on the A string. I love your Claire de Lune by the way!

[@TeeHarb]

Which measure are you talking about? This prelude is 35 measures in the original and so is my arrangement, there are no skipping chords! The voicing is slightly different here and there to accommodate the guitar and to keep it comfortable but that’s it.

[@DavidRubertone]

@@TeeHarb not sure what m# but after the F Maj7 the bass should go chromatic F# - G - Ab. The F# is where you revoice the dim7 to double the F# rather than play a c eb as in original Bach). Right after that the bass should ho to G (I call it a CmMaj7) its G Eb B C Eb B C Eb for a beautifully mysterious sounding dissonance, then it goes to the Ab bass for the dim7, before the G7.

[@breckmartin7882]

@@TeeHarb I think he is just talking about the Schwencke Measure between bars 22 and 23.

[@mikemit3937]

To fast. A bit slower would be great!

[@Guitar-fd4ft]

Nah. Wonderful interpretation. Go listen to a slow version!

[@mikemit3937]

Don’t be angry my friend🤔 I will listen to a slower version…. sorry😊

[@Guitar-fd4ft]

@@mikemit3937 take care 🙏

[@mikemit3937]

👊🏼

[@brothermine2292]

Not Mr. Harb at his best. I heara lot of squeaks & clicks when he repositions the fingerings of his left hand.

[@elzelinakriek-breet3092]

That's normal!

[@brothermine2292]

@@elzelinakriek-breet3092 : It's "normal" for most guitarists. But it's undesirable. A few guitarists do a much better job at reducing or eliminating these anti-musical noises.

[@edwardverdugo7277]

Great Job!! Good Playing Thànkyou Ed Verdugo Ventura Beach, CA.

[@arianecareau4914]

Beautiful!

[@TeeHarb]

You are! Xo