Just found this list on a mailing that I got and thought I'd share. I have no idea as to validity, methodology, etc. I note that some P & F's are missing (#1 from book 1). Comments, anyone?
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Bela Bartok arranged the 48 preludes and fugues in two volumes in progressing order of difficulty. In the following table, arabic numbers standing alone refer to Bach's Book 1;those followed by the indication "II" refer to to Book II.

Bartok Volume 1:

15/II
6
21
10
20/II
11
9
13
21/II
6/II
19/II
11/II
19
14
18
2/II
5
7
14/II
7/II
17
13/II

Bartok Volume 2:

15
12/II
1/II
24/II
10/II
16
5/II
18/II
24
9/II
4/II
23
3/II
12
3
8/II
22
17/II
4
8
20
22/II
16/II
23/II

I think you are missing 2 preludes and fugues from the Vol. 1.

You have 22 Ps and Fs.

Dan

(PS, Thanks! I had just been looking for one I was working on.)

I know. As I said, I have no idea as to validity, etc. Nevertheless, I found it interesting.

Prelude n1 from Book 1 is one of the easiest -- and most beautiful -- keyboard pieces ever. It isn't in the list.

Maybe he didn't want to list it because he got tired of hearing it played at every wedding and funeral he ever attended.

I've seen the complete list. Book 1 #1 is in it, and about two thirds of the way down from the first, due to the difficulty of the fugue, which has 4 voices, an occasional difficult stretch, and some ornaments requiring 4 and 5 of the right hand.

I doubt that Bartok heard that first prelude at his own funeral.

no.1 fugue from WTC1 is difficult. i also think even no.6 prelude from WTC1 is not easy, with all that fast triplet things on LH.

WOW!! And I am working on 8

and 10

How about no.2 from book I?

brojek.

The list would be more accurate (and useful) if Bartok made one list for prelude, and one for fugue.

And there's no better testament to that theory than Prelude #1[/b] from book 1 vs. Fugue #1.

As I said, it's not my list, but I just found it interesting.

Has anyone seen this edition? Does anyone know if it's published anywhere? I would be much more interested in his editorial markings, comments, and the like. I own a collection of Scarlatti sonatas edited by Bartok, and it is wonderful. I would love to see and hear what one of the twentieth century's best pianists/composers had to say about these classics and their interpretation on the piano.

prelude and fugue No.1 from book I is ranked before No.17 and after 7/II.

EMB has published the Bartok edition, the catalog numbers are 4475,4476.

Bartok also did a Mozart sonata edition with lots of editorial notes. I may have had a copy once, but Broder's was much clearer.