Fugue

Fugue
(fyoog)

A form of composition popular in, but not restricted to, the Baroque era, in which a theme or subject is introduced by one voice, and is imitated by other voices in succession. Usually only the first few notes of the subject are imitated exactly, then each voice deviates slightly until the next time it enters again with the subject. Generally the voices overlap and weave in and out of each other forming a continuous, tapestry-like texture.

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

Bach: Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 (opening of the fugue): W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 17
Bach: The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080. Contrapunctus I: W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 25

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