BaCHopin – A tonal and emotional connection

‘Bach and Chopin are among the very few composers that speak absolute truth through their music‘

Chopin wrote that his style was greatly influenced by J.S. Bach. Both composers are connected in their profound approach of sound and in the way they let the different voices interact. Bach and Chopin are among the very few composers that speak absolute truth through their music. When playing through Chopin’s Nocturnes and Bach’s preludes and fugues from the Well-tempered Clavier I noticed striking tonal and emotional similarities between these seemingly completely different masterpieces.

 

J.S.Bach and Frédéric Chopin

  • Prelude and fugue in b-flat minor No.8 BWV 867 and Nocturne Op.9 No.1
  • Prelude and fugue in B major BWV 868 and Nocturne Op.32 No.1
  • Prelude and fugue in c minor BWV 847 and Nocturne Op.48 No.1
  • Prelude and fugue in f-sharp minor BWV 883 and Nocturne Op.48 No.2
  • Prelude and fugue in f minor BWV 881 and Nocturne Op.55 No.1
  • Prelude and fugue in E-flat major BWV 876 and Nocturne Op.55 No.2
  • Prelude and fugue in e minor BWV 855 and Nocturne Op.72 No.1
  • Prelude and fugue in c-sharp minor BWV 849 and Nocturne Op.27 No.1
  • Prelude and fugue in b minor BWV 869