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The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books 1 and 2

Distinguished Australian pianist and harpsichordist Judith Lambden presents the complete J.S. Bach – The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books I & II (BWV 846–893) a 5-CD set which was recorded over a period of nine years.

Covering every major and minor key, The Well-Tempered Clavier (48 Preludes and Fugues) are one of the great monuments of keyboard music. It is a cornerstone for teaching musicians, and a remarkable journey through Bach’s inventive counterpoint, expressive moods, and masterful harmonic structure.

Although conceived for harpsichord or clavichord, Bach’s music has long flourished on the modern piano. Lambden brings to this recording the rare authority of both pianist and harpsichordist, having studied with Ruggero Gerlin (associate of Wanda Landowska) and worked with distinguished pedagogues including Nadia Boulanger and Gustav Leonhardt. Her interpretations combine structural clarity, tonal refinement, and deep stylistic understanding.

From the luminous simplicity of the opening C major Prelude to the architectural grandeur of the final B minor Fugue, Lambden reveals the individuality of each key while shaping the cycle as a unified artistic journey.

Lambden’s long association with Bach’s music — including previous recordings of the English Suites, French Suites and more — makes this complete Well-Tempered Clavier a natural and compelling addition to her discography.

The album was recorded at Move Records Studio, with recording and editing by Vaughan McAlley and Blake Stickland, mastering by Martin Wright, and liner notes by Vaughan McAlley.

Artist

Judith Lambden

Judith was born in Creswick, Victoria in Australia, She graduated from the Melbourne University Conservatorium with a B.Mus(Hons) degree. While still in Melbourne for a further seven years, her teachers were Gordon McKeown for piano and John Ingram for theory and composition. She won many prizes and made national broadcast performances for ABC radio.


Track Listing

    The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I Johann Sebastian Bach

  1. Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846
  2. Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846
  3. Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847
  4. Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847
  5. Prelude No. 3 in C-sharp Major, BWV 848
  6. Fugue No. 3 in C-sharp Major, BWV 848
  7. Prelude No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV 849
  8. Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV 849
  9. Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850
  10. Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850
  11. Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851
  12. Fugue No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851
  13. Prelude No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV 852
  14. Fugue No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV 852
  15. Prelude No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV 853
  16. Fugue No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV 853
  17. Prelude No. 9 in E Major, BWV 854
  18. Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 854
  19. Prelude No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 855
  20. Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 855
  21. Prelude No. 11 in F Major, BWV 856
  22. Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV 856
  23. Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857
  24. Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857
  25. Prelude No. 13 in F-sharp Major, BWV 858
  26. Fugue No. 13 in F-sharp Major, BWV 858
  27. Prelude No. 14 in F-sharp Minor, BWV 859
  28. Fugue No. 14 in F-sharp Minor, BWV 859
  29. Prelude No. 15 in G Major, BWV 860
  30. Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 860
  31. Prelude No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 861
  32. Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 861
  33. Prelude No. 17 in A-flat Major, BWV 862
  34. Fugue No. 17 in A-flat Major, BWV 862
  35. Prelude No. 18 in G-sharp Minor, BWV 863
  36. Fugue No. 18 in G-sharp Minor, BWV 863
  37. Prelude No. 19 in A Major, BWV 864
  38. Fugue No. 19 in A Major, BWV 864
  39. Prelude No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 865
  40. Fugue No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 865
  41. Prelude No. 21 in B-flat Major, BWV 866
  42. Fugue No. 21 in B-flat Major, BWV 866
  43. Prelude No. 22 in B-flat Minor, BWV 867
  44. Fugue No. 22 in B-flat Minor, BWV 867
  45. Prelude No. 23 in B Major, BWV 868
  46. Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 868
  47. Prelude No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 869
  48. Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 869

    49. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II Johann Sebastian Bach

  49. Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870
  50. Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870
  51. Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 871
  52. Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 871
  53. Prelude No. 3 in C-sharp Major, BWV 872
  54. Fugue No. 3 in C-sharp Major, BWV 872
  55. Prelude No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV 873
  56. Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV 873
  57. Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874
  58. Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874
  59. Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 875
  60. Fugue No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 875
  61. Prelude No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV 876
  62. Fugue No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV 876
  63. Prelude No. 8 in D-sharp Minor, BWV 877
  64. Fugue No. 8 in D-sharp Minor, BWV 877
  65. Prelude No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878
  66. Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878
  67. Prelude No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 879
  68. Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 879
  69. Prelude No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880
  70. Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880
  71. Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881
  72. Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881
  73. Prelude No. 13 in F-sharp Major, BWV 882
  74. Fugue No. 13 in F-sharp Major, BWV 882
  75. Prelude No. 14 in F-sharp Minor, BWV 883
  76. Fugue No. 14 in F-sharp Minor, BWV 883
  77. Prelude No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884
  78. Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884
  79. Prelude No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885
  80. Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885
  81. Prelude No. 17 in A-flat Major, BWV 886
  82. Fugue No. 17 in A-flat Major, BWV 886
  83. Prelude No. 18 in G-sharp Minor, BWV 887
  84. Fugue No. 18 in G-sharp Minor, BWV 887
  85. Prelude No. 19 in A Major, BWV 888
  86. Fugue No. 19 in A Major, BWV 888
  87. Prelude No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 889
  88. Fugue No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 889
  89. Prelude No. 21 in B-flat Major, BWV 890
  90. Fugue No. 21 in B-flat Major, BWV 890
  91. Prelude No. 22 in B-flat Minor, BWV 891
  92. Fugue No. 22 in B-flat Minor, BWV 891
  93. Prelude No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892
  94. Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892
  95. Prelude No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893
  96. Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893

Performers

Composer

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity.


Where to buy

The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books 1 and 2 is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$50.00 AUD
Editing Engineer
Vaughan McAlley
Release date
February 2026
Copyright
© 2025 Judith Lambden
Phonogram
℗ 2025 Move Records
Category
Classical
Catalogue number
MCD 667
Alternate catalogue number
MCD667
Barcode
EAN 8721465019643