The first note of the subject is a whole note. This note, preceding the ascent, ideally should be played softly, but if the whole note is sustained too long, other voices may enter before the next note, causing the subject to become indistinct. In such cases, it may be better to articulate the first note clearly from the outset (as a clear, even if plain, subject is preferable to one that is inaudible).

This fugue itself is a leisurely one, devoid of strong emotional or dramatic elements.

Play it with the image of time slowly unfolding.

Let us assume the subject of this fugue extends from the first beat of measure 1 to the F-sharp on the first beat of measure 2. While you can identify the standard subject, there are also transformed versions. The author has extracted the following instances considered as transformed subjects:

• Measure 23, beat 1, Soprano
• Measure 30, off-beat of beat 1, Bass
• Measure 35, beat 1, Tenor
• Measure 37, off-beat of beat 2, Soprano

Please bring out these subjects as well.