Bach’s major organ Preludes & Fugues are among the most difficult works written for the instrument. They were likely written for recital rather than liturgical use, and for practical reasons were probably usually practiced at home on pedal harpsichord and pedal clavichord rather than in church. Within the Bach household there was also a tradition of composing for pairs of keyboards, and this edition presents arrangments of eight organ Preludes & Fugues for keyboard duo (harpsichords, clavichords, organs or pianos), turning virtuoso solo works into more approachable chamber music repertoire. The arrangements have been made from the best surviving manuscript and printed sources, and full advantage has been taken of the possibilities of dialogue between two instruments.

Francis Knights is a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, Chairman of the National Early Music Association and Editor of Harpsichord & Fortepiano. His research interests include manuscript studies, performance practice, music analysis, pedagogy and organology. He has recently performed cycles of all Bach’s clavier works and of the entire Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, and his previous editions of keyboard music for Lyrebird Music include the complete duos by the Bach family (LBMP-023) and the Art of Fugue (LBMP-028).