Bach, "Little" Fugue (G minor, BWV 578)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for this video

Q: Where can I get the sheet music for this piece?
A: Here are a few places:
http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/d/dd/IMSLP04395-Bach_-_BGA_-_BWV_578.pdf
http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/bwv578/Bach_Fugue_Gminor.pdf
http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/bwv578/fuga-bwv578.pdf

Q: Is there a version for piano?
A: Here's an arrangement I made:
http://www.musanim.com/pdf/bwv578_LittleFugue_PianoArr.pdf
and here is one of Olga Samaroff's arrangements
http://www.musanim.com/pdf/samaroff_bach_fugue.pdf
(much better than mine)

Q: What is the BWV number for this piece?
A: 578.

Q: Where can I download a good version of this?
A: If you sign up for a Vimeo account (free), you can download the .m4v (QuickTime) original of this (the one I uploaded to YouTube); this can be played on your computer, or a video iPod; here's the link:
http://www.vimeo.com/204519

Q: What instrument is that?
A: The instrument here is a Post fortepiano (a sampled instrument), used as a pedal piano.

Q: I'd rather hear it on the organ.
A: YouTube contributor TheAPAnderson has posted a version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1XD1MSES_8

Q: Pedal piano!?! What the **** is that?
A: It's a piano with a pedalboard, like an organ. If you want to know more about this, the Wikipedia article is good
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedal_piano
and this company is actually making them (if seeing these pictures doesn't make you want one, you're either not a pianist or not an organist):
http://www.borgato.it/doppioborgato.htm

Q: Who is performing?
A: This rendition isn't exactly a performance in the traditional sense; it was done by Stephen Malinowski (smalin, me) using the conductor program; you can read more about that here:
http://www.musanim.com/tapper/

Q: What do the colors in the bar-graph score mean?
A: The colors show which "voice" is playing.

Q: Why are there two lines an octave apart in the bass?
A: In organ music, the parts are often doubled with pitches that are higher than the notated pitch. In addition, the lowest part, played by the pedals, is sometimes doubled an octave lower. When parts are doubled, you tend to hear the lowest pitch, so in the bass part, there was the question: should I show the notated pitch or the pitch you hear? I decided to show both.

Q: Is there a way I could make the bar-graph scores myself?
A: The Music Animation Machine MIDI file player will generate this display; you can get the (Windows) software here:
http://www.musanim.com/player/
There are lots of places on the web where you can get MIDI files; I usually go to the Classical Archives site first:
http://www.classicalarchives.com/

Q: Could you please do a MAM video of _________?
A: Please see:
http://www.musanim.com/all/MAMRequests.html
.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bach
• organ
• fortepiano
• music
• fugue
• counterpoint
• animation
• visualization
• score
• scrolling

[B0sTonCeltics20534]

OP,

Re-upload this in 1080p please.

Or post link for HD download.

[smalin]

@B0sTonCeltics20534 It takes almost as much work to remaster a video as to do a new one, so I'd rather work on a new video than make a new version of one that's already available.

[rogerromagosa]

Incredible that something composed some 300 years ago still sound fresh and interesting... Bach still is the father of it all... like Beethoven said, instead of Bach (Stream in german) it should be named ocean...

[smalin]

@rogerromagosa Didn't he say he was a river, not a stream?

[Justsomebody95]

He i've got a question about a musical episode from Sanctuary

Is this actually Fugue? (that's also the name of the episode)

YouTube link: watch?v=eP5Itay2Be0&feature=ch­annel_video_title

Skip to: 6:59 to watch

If it is/isn't please anwser

[smalin]

@Justsomebody95 No, that music is not a fugue. (But "fugue" has other meanings, as in "fugue state.")

[facisseJ]

Polyphonic done to absolute perfection. I love this piece.

[lopezjackie515]

Your video is popular on Netherlands

[muffinsarelife1]

Why do all bach fugues in minor keys end with the parallel major?

[blupiano]

@Weimar76 In English I believe the name would translate to John Brooks.

[humbertabe]

@B0sTonCeltics20534 best music that will ever exist

[rockanneable]

Watching these are going to help me recognize them on my listening test in college, since I learn better with colors and motion, this is great convinience.

[pruehle710]

this sucks

[Catslovedogs2007]

looks like you need 5 hands to play this!! so divine!

[SweetlyDissonant]

Picardy third!

[Weimar76]

I think that "Bach" means "Creek"