Graceful ornamental notes, specifically appoggiaturas, characterize this especially lyrical prelude, which takes the form of a loure. It leads into an alla breve fugue, a canzona evoking the old, harmonically pure style of Palestrina. The fugue's four voices enter in ascending order, the subject seeming to test the water with its first two notes, then splashing steadily along through free counterpoint. ~ James Reel, All Music Guide
