J.S. Bach: Little Fugue in G Minor

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rocketsforever
June 22, 2008

Edith Hanselman, organist and music director or Strathroy United Church, performs J. S. Bach's famous Little Fugue in G Minor to conclude the Going Through the Gates Sunday service on June 15, 2008.

Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 is a piece of organ music written by Johann Sebastian Bach sometime around his years at Arnstadt (1703-1707). It is often confused that the Little fugue in G minor is Little in importance and duration, but the fact is Bach titled the piece Little to avoid confusion between this piece, and the later "Great" Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542, which is longer in duration.

The fugue's four-and-a-half measure subject is one of Bach's most recognizable tunes. The fugue is in four voices. During the episodes, Bach uses one of Arcangelo Corelli's most famous techniques: imitation between two voices on an eighth note upbeat figure that first leaps up a fourth and then falls back down one step at a time. This piece is mathematical and precise.

Johann Sebastian Bach (pronounced [joˈhan/ˈjoːhan zeˈbastjan ˈbax]) (March 21, 1685 O.S. -- July 28, 1750 N.S.) was a German composer and organist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity. Although he introduced no new forms, he enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, an unrivalled control of harmonic and motivic organisation in composition for diverse musical forces, and the adaptation of rhythms and textures from abroad, particularly Italy and France.

Revered for their intellectual depth and technical and artistic beauty, Bach's works include the Brandenburg concertos; the Goldberg Variations; the English Suites, French Suites, Partitas, and Well-Tempered Clavier; the Mass in B Minor; the St. Matthew Passion; the St. John Passion; The Musical Offering; The Art of Fugue; the Sonatas and Partitas for violin solo; the Cello Suites; more than 200 surviving cantatas; and a similar number of organ works, including the celebrated Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

While Bach's fame as an organist was great during his lifetime, he was not particularly well-known as a composer. His adherence to Baroque forms and contrapuntal style was considered "old-fashioned" by his contemporaries, especially late in his career when the musical fashion tended towards Rococo and later Classical styles. A revival of interest and performances of his music began early in the 19th century, and he is now widely considered to be one of the greatest composers in the Western tradition.

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Strathroy United Church J.S. Bach Little Fugue in Minor

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stockmaster1982 (1 week ago) Show Hide

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I think it sounds better faster!

sanjosemike (2 weeks ago) Show Hide

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Glenn Gould also rocketed through Bach.

The problem with playing this so fast is that you miss out the pedal/left hand vertical harmonies, which tend to build up as you approach the climax of the fugue. Plus, it gets very hard to control. (As you found out).

Next time, have someone turn the pages for you and reduce the tempo by half.

I don't mean to be unkind. You have the technique to play this beautifully, and you can...but never at this tempo.

sanjosemike

Buurg (1 month ago) Show Hide

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There were a lot of mistakes the organist made and I think it's due to the tempo he chose. There was actually never an exact tempo for the baroque period and the performer would (traditionally) play them at the speed that he interperetes as appropriate.
I actually have never heard anyone play this without making at least 2 mistakes. Even proffessionals struggle with this.

Biff947 (2 months ago) Show Hide

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You took the description from the wikipedia article I started (-:

OIYM091 (2 months ago) Show Hide

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everyone should watch to original J.S Bash Little Fugue in G minor
its better and more.... just more amazing

stupidsquirrels (4 months ago) Show Hide

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Bullshit!
It's also played awfully.

You should try to find Virgil Fox playing this piece, it's perfect.

Tman2295 (4 months ago) Show Hide

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Calm down. Its just a song; clearly you havent been too the orchestra lately......

stupidsquirrels (4 months ago) Show Hide

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She really has to pee? lol

azworx (5 months ago) Show Hide

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Absolutely too fast. Slow your tempo down to Quarter = 60 OR Quarter = 120. Sheesh

elamonty (5 months ago) Show Hide

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ah ok thanks, i always thought it was ment to be played at a slower tempo. hehe
i prefer the slower version.

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