Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata in F-sharp minor, BWV 910, is arguably the most demanding and introspective of his early keyboard toccatas. Set in a rare and difficult key for the early 18th century, it eschews simple virtuosity in favor of profound harmonic exploration. The work begins with a jagged, descending manual flourish that quickly dissolves into a series of "sighing" chromatic sequences and dissonant suspensions. The heart of the piece lies in its two rigorous fugues: the first is a slow-burning, chromatic study in tension, while the second is a massive, relentless finale in $6/8$ time. Throughout, Bach utilizes the stylus phantasticus to bridge the gap between improvisational freedom and strict contrapuntal logic, creating a work that feels both structurally massive and deeply personal.
This edition is a reissue of music originally published by Edition Peters.
