Bach, Johann Sebastian : Praludium und Fuge Fugue
Work Overview
Genre:pieces
Total Playing Time:2 min 30 sec
Copyright:Public Domain
Commentary (1)
Author : Ooi, Kazurou
Last Updated: October 30, 2023
[Open]
Author : Ooi, Kazurou
Although a mere 34 measures long, this is a dramatic fugue. As a suggestion, the peak of this fugue is located between measures 29 and 34 (measure 34 being the final measure). Therefore, if the end is to be the peak, it would be more effective to begin quietly from pp.
There are almost no long sequences; themes emerge one after another. The themes should vary in volume and timbre according to each key or each voice.
A stretto appears in measure 27; in this case, the bass theme enters from the upbeat of beat 3. It would be effective to quiet the soprano theme at that moment to bring out the bass.
Then, in measure 29, the peak is reached, and the music descends in measure 30, but since a dramatic Neapolitan sixth chord (BDF) appears in measure 31 (beats 1-2), one would want to crescendo towards the bass D# in the first beat of measure 33, even while descending. Therefore, it would be good to reduce the volume once somewhere in measure 30 and then increase it again towards D# in measure 33. Measure 33 can be played quite slowly throughout.