Johann Sebastian Bach ： Toccata d-moll BWV 913

This toccata draws on the tension and shading of D minor through a freely conceived design. Within a structure made up of several contrasting sections, improvisatory passages are set against contrapuntal writing in which the subject is passed between voices. Its appeal lies not only in the momentum of rapid movement, but also in the pauses that seem to suspend the flow and in the expressive colors created by harmonic changes. In performance, it is important to distinguish the character of each section clearly, avoid rushing the smaller notes, and present the movement of the individual voices with clarity. Lightness in the ornamental figures, together with a well-shaped sense of tension and release, brings out the work’s freedom and dramatic appeal.