A fugue is a type of musical composition where a main theme (the subject) is introduced and then imitated by several voices entering one after another, creating a complex, interwoven texture. Key points
- Structure
- Exposition: the subject is stated in each voice, usually in succession.
- Development: episodes and further entries develop and transform material.
- Final entry: the subject returns, often in the original key or a closely related one.
- Texture and technique
- Counterpoint: multiple independent melodic lines sounding together.
- Imitation: the subject is echoed in different voices at different pitches.
- Related ideas
- A fugue can be written for a single instrument (e.g., organ, piano) or for multiple voices.
- Well-known composers who wrote fugues include Johann Sebastian Bach, whose The Well-Tempered Clavier contains famous examples.
Common misconceptions
- A fugue is not simply a round or canon, though it relies heavily on imitation like those forms.
- It’s more than simple repetition; it’s a formal, tightly constructed contrapuntal architecture.
If you’d like, I can give a short example describing how a typical four-voice fugue unfolds, or point to famous fugues to listen to for better understanding.
