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Essay on the True Manner of Playing the Clavier

Translated by Tobias Plebuch and Derek Remeš


Table of Contents

Introduction

Glossary


Signatur, Signaturen

Translated as “figure(s),” “figuration”


Bach also uses “Ziffer” for “figure” and “Bezifferung” for “figuration.”
II:1, §8    On intervals and their figures
Alle im Generalbasse vorkommende Zeichen, welche das Accompagnement angehen, heißen: Signaturen. All symbols that occur in thoroughbass and which concern accompaniment are called figures.
II:11, §2    On the 5/2 chord
Seine Signatur ist 5/4/2. Die Secunde ist in diesem Accorde groß; die Quinte und Quarte rein. Its figuration is 5/4/2. The second in this chord is major; the fifth and fourth are perfect.