Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080

Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080

Die Kunst der Fuga (Altnickol)

The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080

The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080

Started: 1742 / Copied: 1745

Arrangement of movements from 1751 printed edition

► Simple fugues

Simple monothematic 4-voice fugues on main theme:

01. Contrapunctus I

02. Contrapunctus II

Simple monothematic 4-voice fugues on inversion of main theme:

03. Contrapunctus III

04. Contrapunctus IV

► Counter-fugues, in which a variation of the main subject is used in both regular and inverted form:

Has many stretto entries, as do Contrapuncti VI and VII:

05. Contrapunctus V

In dotted rhythm, known as "French style" in Bach's day:

06. Contrapunctus VI, a 4 in stile francese

Uses augmented (doubling all note lengths) and diminished (halving all note lengths) versions of the main subject and its inversion:

07. Contrapunctus VII, Fuga a 4 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem

► Double and triple fugues, with two and three subjects respectively:

Triple fugue:

08. Contrapunctus VIII, a 3

Double fugue:

09. Contrapunctus IX, a 4 alla Duodecima

Double fugue:

10. Contrapunctus X, a 4 alla Decima

Triple fugue:

11. Contrapunctus XI, a 4

► Mirror fugues, in which the complete score can be inverted without loss of musicality:

The rectus (normal) and inversus (upside-down) versions are generally played back to back:

12. Contrapunctus XII, a 4

The second mirror fugue in 3 voices, also a counter-fugue:

13. Contrapunctus XIII, a 3

► Canons, labeled by interval and technique:

The two imitating voices are separated by an octave:

14. Canon all' Octava: Canon at the Octave

Canon at the tenth, counterpoint at the third:

15. Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza

Canon at the twelfth, counterpoint at the fifth:

16. Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta

Augmented canon in inverted motion:

17. Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu: Augmented canon in inverted motion

18. Fuga a 2 clav. (rectus), and Alio modo Fuga a 2 clav. (inversus)

► Unfinished quadruple fugue:

4-voice triple, possibly quadruple, fugue, the third subject of which is based on the BACH motif, Bb–A–C–Bb:

19. Fuga a 3 Soggetti (Contrapunctus XIV)

Arrangement of movements from BOOSEY & HAWKES Edition

01. Contrapunctus I, Fuga a 4 voci

02. Contrapunctus II, Fuga a 4 voci

03. Contrapunctus III, Fuga a 4 voci

04. Contrapunctus IV, Fuga a 4 voci

05. Contrapunctus V, Fuga a 4 voci

06. Contrapunctus VI, Fuga a 4 voci in stile francese

07. Contrapunctus VII, Fuga a 4 voci per Augmentationem et Diminutionem

08. Contrapunctus VIII, Fuga a 3 voci

09. Contrapunctus IX, Fuga a 4 voci alla Duodecima

10. Contrapunctus X, a 4 voci alla Decima

11. Contrapunctus XI, Fuga a 4 voci

12. Contrapunctus XII, Canon all' Octava

13. Contrapunctus XIII, Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu

14. Contrapunctus XIV, Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza

15. Contrapunctus XV, Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta

16. Contrapunctus XVI, a 4 voci (rectus / inversus)

17. Contrapunctus XVII, a 3 voci (rectus / inversus)

18a. Contrapunctus XVIII, Fuga a 2 clav.

18b. Contrapunctus XVIII, Alio modo Fuga a 2 clav.

19. Contrapunctus XIX, a 3 soggetti