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Outline of the art of fugue
The art of fugue, J.S. Bach composed in his last 10 years, is a cycle
consisting of various fugues in D minor based on one theme, employing
different fugal styles like an inverted fugue and multiple fugue etc..
Due to the deterioration of eyesight, unfortunately, Bach was prevented
from writing music, though the work was almost completed, whereas the
preparation for a publication was in progress in his very last year.
The art of fugue includes fourteen fugues, his posthumous manuscripts,
four canons and an organ choral (BWV668) which was said to be dictated by
Bach at his sickbed, and was added later on by publisher in order to make
up for the incomplete cycle.
A far as the present the art of fugue concerns,
there are two distinctive working periods.
The 1st stage:
in the early 1740's, composition and making fair copies of
twelve fugues and two canons were done.
The 2nd stage:
In the latter 1740's, preparation for a publication
and addition of two canons and two fugues were done.
The autograph manuscripts in the first stage had already been completed as
a circle, but various alternations were made at the time of publication in his
last year. The most remarkable alternations are the addition of new pieces
and the reordering of entire pieces.
Among the new pieces, the triple fugue was left unfinished.
This controversial cycle with the unfinished piece has borne all sorts of
enigma, still in our times, because it came out in print with slight
modifications by publisher and, furthermore, the fugues were notated on
every part. (if four voices, four staves )
The followings are the issues we still discuss today.
・The original order of pieces is unclear
since the reordering was conducted after Bach's death.
・The original manuscripts and the arrangements are added.
・The unfinished triple fugue does not include the theme
employed throughout the piece (common theme).
・No indication is found about the instrumentation,
although it is playable by keyboard.
Visitor Center Glossary Introduction to fugues Top Page
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