Transcript Fugue

HIGHER LISTENING:
FUGUE
• A complicated piece of
contrapuntal / polyphonic music
• A contrapuntal piece essentially
based upon the idea of imitation
Exposition
Begins with the SUBJECT, played or sung by one voice.
e.g. Trinidad and the big Mississippi etc.
Voice 1
SUBJECT
Exposition
Once the subject has been heard all the way through, a second
voice enters with the answer.
This is very similar to the subject. If the intervals between all
the notes are the same as the subject, it is a real answer. If
they are slightly different, it is a tonal answer.
Meanwhile, the first voice continues with a counter-subject
e.g. Canada Malaga Rimini Brindisi
Voice 1
Voice 2
Subject
Counter-subject
Answer
Exposition
The next voice to enter (Voice 3) comes in with the subject again. The
second voice now moves on to the counter-subject, and the first
voice moves on to a 2 nd counter-subject
e.g. Yes! Tibet, Tibet, Tibet!
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 3
Subject
Counter-subject 2nd counter-subject
Answer
Counter-subject
Subject
Exposition
This process continues until all voices have sung or played
through the subject, counter-subject and 2nd counter-subject.
Episode
• New material is introduced
• The music will probably modulate
• There will be quite a lot of imitation
• Throughout the rest of the Fugue, the subject continues to enter in
new keys.
• Some composers played around with the subject using techniques
such as augmentation, diminution and stretto
• AUGMENTATION: The subject is heard in longer note values, giving
the effect of slowing down.
• DIMINUTION: The subject is heard in shorter note values, giving the
effect of speeding up.
• STRETTO: A voice enters with the subject or answer before the
previous voice has finished playing it.