The Well-Tempered Clavier II

Volume 2 of the „WTC“ has survived in two distinct manuscript traditions. Till now, all printed editions have combined these two traditions into a single hybrid edition, „preferring now this reading, now that one, at the editor’s descretion“ (A. Dürr).

Our volume presents each piece in the version containing the largest number of Bach’s subsequent changes; significant variants from the other version are added as alternatives. A detailed preface by the editor discusses the source material and performance practice, including the execution of ornaments.