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Bach compiled the first part in 1722, followed by the second in 1742, intending them for the study of keybard playing. They were not published until the 19th century, but after Bach's death they were well-known by some influential Leipzig-based keyboardists such as C. G. Neefe, who taught [[Beethoven]] in Bonn.<ref>Thayer, A. W., rev and ed. Elliot Forbes. ''Thayer's Life of Beethoven''. (2 vols.) Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 59</ref> The [[Dutch]] ambassador and musical connoiseur Baron Gottfried van Swieten is credited with bringing the WTC to [[Vienna]] for the first time in 1777.<ref>Tomita, Yo. Bach Reception in Pre-Classical Vienna: Baron van Swieten's Circle Edits the 'Well-Tempered Clavier. ''Music & Letters 81'' (2000). pp. 364-391</ref> Because of Swieten's influence, it was known by [[Mozart]]. Later, both [[Frederic Chopin]] and [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]] claimed to have played a prelude and fugue from it every morning.

Bach compiled the first part in 1722, followed by the second in 1742, intending them for the study of keybard playing. They were not published until the 19th century, but after Bach's death they were well-known by some influential Leipzig-based keyboardists such as C. G. Neefe, who taught [[Beethoven]] in Bonn.<ref>Thayer, A. W., rev and ed. Elliot Forbes. ''Thayer's Life of Beethoven''. (2 vols.) Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 59</ref> The [[Dutch]] ambassador and musical connoiseur Baron Gottfried van Swieten is credited with bringing the WTC to [[Vienna]] for the first time in 1777.<ref>Tomita, Yo. Bach Reception in Pre-Classical Vienna: Baron van Swieten's Circle Edits the 'Well-Tempered Clavier. ''Music & Letters 81'' (2000). pp. 364-391</ref> Because of Swieten's influence, it was known by [[Mozart]]. Later, both [[Frederic Chopin]] and [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]] claimed to have played a prelude and fugue from it every morning.

The first keyboard cycle to include all keys, the WTC inspired several later composers to compose cycles of preludes (with or without fugues). Chopin's Preludes (Op. 28) are particularly beloved, and Rachmaninoff eventually published 24 preludes (Op. 3/2, Op. 23, Op. 32). [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] was so taken with the idea that he published a set of 24 preludes early in his career (Op. 34), and then writing a seperate set of 24 preludes and fugues (Op. 87) in the 1950's, both sets following Chopin's system of progressing through the circle of fifths rather than Bach's half-steps.  

The first keyboard cycle to include all keys, the WTC inspired several later composers to compose cycles of preludes (with or without fugues). Chopin's Preludes (Op. 28) are particularly beloved, and Rachmaninoff eventually published 24 preludes (Op. 3/2, Op. 23, Op. 32). [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] was so taken with the idea that he published a set of 24 preludes early in his career (Op. 34), and then wrote a seperate set of 24 preludes and fugues (Op. 87) in the 1950's, both sets following Chopin's system of progressing through the circle of fifths rather than Bach's half-steps.

 

The Well-Tempered Clavier is still played by practically all students of the piano and [[harpsichord]], with most of the world's conservatories and music universities including one prelude and fugue as an audition requirement. Several pianists and harpsichordists have recorded and the whole cycle, the earliest being by Edwin Fischer in the 1930s. Other notable recordings and live performances have been made by [[Sviatoslav Richter]], [[Glenn Gould]], Roselyn Tureck, András Schiff, and Friedrich Gulda. Wanda Landowska and Ralph Kirkpatrick have both recorded the WTC on harpsichord.

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