Organ Fugue in G Minor (BWV 578)
Listening Guide
Embedded Files
Robert Köbler (1965) Silbemann organ of the village church of Grosshartmannsdorf (1741)
Alternate recording: Watch a live performance of Bach's Little Fugue in G Minor (The analysis below does not follow this timing.)
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Composition: Organ Fugue in G Minor (BWV 578)
Date: circa 1709
Genre: Organ Fugue
Form: Fugue
Nature of texture: Bach was able to take the earlier vocal polyphony of the renaissance period and apply it to the organ fugue. This is regarded as one of Bach's great achievements.
Performing Forces: Organ
What we want you to remember about this composition:
- Listen to how Bach weaves and overlaps the subject throughout the piece.
Other things to listen for
- The subject (tune) is introduced in the highest voices and then is imitated in each lower voice in order: soprano, alto, tenor and then bass in the pedals. After the exposition is completed in the bass pedals, the subject is introduced in the first voice. Upon the entrance of the second layer, the first voice goes into a counter subject. Just before the subject is introduced five more times, it is preceded by a brief episode. In each episode the subject is not played in its entirety.
- Even though the fugue is in G minor, the piece ends with a major chord, a practice utilized during the Baroque period. Major chords were thought more conclusive than minor chords.
Timing
Timing
Performing Forces, Melody, and Texture
Performing Forces, Melody, and Texture
Subject in soprano voice alone, minor key
Subject in alto, countersubject in running notes in soprano
Subject in tenor, countersubject above it; brief episode follows
Subject in bass (pedals), countersubject in tenor
Brief episode
Subject begins in tenor, continues in soprano
Brief episode, running notes in a downward sequence
Subject in alto, major key; countersubject in soprano
Episode in major, upward leaps and running notes
Subject in bass (pedals), major key, countersubject and long trill above it
Longer episode
Subject in soprano, minor key, countersubject below it
Extended episode
Subject in bass (pedals), countersubject in soprano; fugue ends with major chord
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