Help me with this fugue

So I'm writing a this fugue. I like the subject and the countersubject and stuff. But I am really lost because this is the first time that I'm writing something contrapuntal. Is it acceptable as a modern fugue so far? Do you have any comments, especially on stuff like voice leading. What do I do next? Where can a modern fugue go in terms of form?

EDIT: Go to page two for the latest version.

fugue.PDF

fugue.mp3

Edited March 4, 201115 yr by Ian

I uploaded the wrong score and audio. The actual one is slightly different.

fugue changed.mp3

fugue changed.PDF

Isn't there a fugue quite similar to this one - A3 from grade 8 ABRSM 2011-2012?

I am doing the ABRSM grade 8 next year. I have heard it, and no, I can't say it sounds simmilar at all. Except for the fact that they are both in common time and in the key of C. (mine is C minor. The Trgve Madsen one is in some sort of modified C major key.)

Hah! They don't sound similar, yes, but their subjects do - especially the subject head. And about your fugue being in C minor - why do you say that? Your score must be erroneous - no time signatures, no key signatures (I'm assuming it's in C major).

About writing the fugue itself:

1. Play more Bach.

2. Understand the terms parallel octaves/fifths/fourths/unisons and hidden octaves/fifths/fourths/unisons

3. Plan your development. Focus on the aspects of your subject and your countersubject. For example, you could build on thirds, the initial motif, descending scales, tension between the leading tone and the tonic, etc.

4. Relax on the accent signs. They uglify(for lack of better words) the score, and serve no musical purpose in bulk.

5. Finish your fugue anyway - it's easier to point out specific flaws.

You might want to look at some of my fugues - I think they would be of interest to you, as we're similar in age and we both lack guidance in composition.

What pieces will you play? They're all quite interesting. I like the Capriccio from the Partita in C minor, and the C major prelude by Prokofiev.

Cool. I'm playing Bach's prelude and fugue in Bb, (It's an alternative piece) the rondo movement of Beethoven's Pathetique sonata and the Prokofiev prelude. I would rather play the jazz one or the debussy (or is it ravel) waltz, but my teacher wants me to do Prokofiev.

And it is in C minor. The score must be wrong. There should be three flats in the key signature.

But I need to know if everything is okay so far. In the redundant entry, I changed the counterpoints for the two voices not playing the subject. Is that okay?

I also have a bunch of octaves. If everything is generally okay so far, then I could confidently finish it.

Oh, also, the accent signs are for the playback so that the audio I export from it sounds nice.

Can you upload a different PDF? This one wont let me view the score :(

I LOVE it! I say keep going with it as is, it's more interesting to not follow the Bach rules— those were for music of his time. But now composers have free reign, and so I love this usage of the fugue, with a more modern tune. It kinda sounds like a blues melody, but then becomes a fugue.. I LOVE it!! ahh I love fugues!

@johnbucket

I don't know if its WTC I or II. I would check the book but I don't have it with me now. Also, I am using sibelius. It's sibelius first, so it might be crappier than the full version but yeah.

This is a three part fugue. A redundant entry is when you repeat the subject for the fourth time in the exposition in a three part fugue right? When I repeat the subject for the fourth time the other two voices are in free counterpoint is what I mean.

I have litsened to your fugues. I might analyze them sometime.

@jawoodruff

Oh, okay. I will re upload it later.

@JThuman

Thanks buddy.

a fugue with a jazz feel to it! well to me it seems like a beginning of something even more epic, i think you did a pretty good jobs, although i've never made in fugues so i can't tell you if its really consistent by its rules, it sounds lovely but way too short to be considered a piece on its own, you should develop it more, make alot of key changes that sound appropriate-like going to the standard V from the first motif, but do it even more with the jazz style-go with tensions and jazz harmony to get it up while counterpointing with barok rules-you can do it!

it might be a new thing in jazz, i think brad mehldau did something similar but i don't think he maintained the fugue rules so strictly.

Hopefully the sheets aren't messed up this time.

I have added four bars.

fugue changed.PDF

fugue changed.mp3

dont know how but please finish it

Okay, it's been more than four months now. I've been composing this on and off; it's a slow and frustrating process. I need your opinions on the second episode. (bars 27-30) I'm not too sure about it. Just tell me if you think it's fine or if I should change it, hardly takes any effort at all. Bonus points if you take the time to give a more in-depth assessment of what I've done so far.

Thanks.

fugue in C minor.pdf

fugue in C minor.mp3