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Eminently readable despite the complexity of its subject,
Fugal Composition: A Guide to the Study of Bach's 48 guides the reader in studying the 48 fugues of the composer's
Well-Tempered Clavier. Author Joseph Groocock analyzes each of the fugues individually, both verbally and diagrammatically, and includes such elements as overall structure, episodes, stretto, subsidiary subjects, and countersubjects. The appendices and index furnish a ready reference for the scholar or researcher seeking information or guidance on specific points.
Meanwhile, the volume's editor supplies comparative analyses using current and previous scholarship on every fugue-illustrating where the author supports or challenges other viewpoints. In all, the analyses contained in
Fugal Composition establish the extraordinary diversity of Bach's fugal style, in such a way that readers gain a new understanding of these significant and beautiful works of music.
List of contents
Editorial Preface
Introduction
Fugal Style
Answering a Fugue Subject
Countersubjects
The Exposition
A Classification of the '48'
Group 1: Fugues for Two Voices
Group 2: Fugues for Three Voices without Stretto
Episodes (1)
Group 3: Fugues for Three Voices with Stretto
Fugues for Four Voices (general)
Group 4: Fugues for Four Voices without Stretto
Group 5: Fugues for Four Voices with Stretto
Group 6: Fugues with Countersubjects After the Exposition
Group 7: Fugues with Subsidiary Subjects
Group 8: Fugues for Five Voices
Episodes (2)
Tonality in the '48'
Conclusion
Appendix A: Episodes
Appendix B: Proportions
Annotated Bibliography
Index
About the author
JOSEPH GROOCOCK was a Lecturer at Trinity College Dublin and at the Dublin Institute of Technology. An accomplished pianist and organist, conductor, and composer, Dr. Groocock died in 1997.
YO TOMITA is a Reader in the School of Music at the Queen's University, Belfast.
Summary
Eminently readable despite the complexity of its subject, Fugal Composition: A Guide to the Study of Bach's 48 guides the reader in studying the 48 fugues of the composer's Well-Tempered Clavier.
