Fugue in F minor.

This fugue, whose subject I came up with around late February this year, has finally been finished over the course of yesterday evening and today morning. Since the subject, albeit distinctive enough, was merely one bar long, the fugue itself is also somewhat short in duration, at least when compared to most other of its kind among my production. Nontheless, I think the stretti section from the middle pedal point on might compensate for that.

Enjoy!

Edited June 17, 20232 yr by Fugax Contrapunctus

1. amazing counterpoint! a very nice solved jigsaw, as with fugues do, and flows very well

2. I do think a slower tempo will help though, especially with your concern of a short subject (not a problem for me), I do think it will bring out the tension and resolutions better

3. Mr big hands?

It is a beautiful escape. From what I've heard of your fugues, it's a characteristic of your style to maintain a constant density. The sequences sound great and the development phenomenal.

Hey Pabio,

Again this is nice fugal stuff! I always enjoy your fugues since they are precise. Actually I sometimes enjoy your fugue in minor mode more since they are more chromatic and advanced in the characters and sequences, and this one is colourful. I agree with @Luis Hernández that you tend to have thick and dense counterpoint without some sections having a lighter texture. I also agree with @PCC with the playability issue since I always address on that in your previous posts haha! Nonetheless it's very enjoyable and thanks for sharing!

Henry

On 6/13/2023 at 7:32 PM, PCC said:

1. amazing counterpoint! a very nice solved jigsaw, as with fugues do, and flows very well

2. I do think a slower tempo will help though, especially with your concern of a short subject (not a problem for me), I do think it will bring out the tension and resolutions better

3. Mr big hands?

 

Thank you very much for your input! In regards to your 2nd point, the attached audio file, besides being twice as slow as the original, has been rendered into A = 415 1/5 comma meantone temperament. Thoughts on the current sound?

Lastly, the issues with playability might have potentially been solved by the tempo modifications, though most of them are still in a bit of a slippery slope at that. As my current keyboard level does simply not allow me to play such difficult counterpoint, I guess it's just natural that my detachment from the instrument may result in excessive distances between the voices being borderline impossible to covet.

Not a foolproof way, but a simple way to check playability is whether at any point of the piece you need someone to stretch beyond an octave for one or more hands...?

I'm no familiar with temperments so I can't help there. But I do feel this slightly slower tempo works better for this fugue

I believe that the only times it makes sense to go beyond an octave are when you’re playing block chords (in which case a ninth or tenth is acceptable) or when two voices briefly exceed an octave in oblique motion

@mossy84 I'm honestly having a hard time believing nobody here (including myself) replied to such a marvellous fugue you've crafted from an altered version of mine's subject. It's just wonderful. The texture and voice leading both feel tremendously light, swift and natural, much closer to J. S. Bach's style than I could ever dream of achieving with my own petty attempts at fugue-writing.

I'm still in shock that I didn't pay this little masterpiece its due attention back when you first published it. Therefore, I cannot help but apologize, for it pains me that such a bewilderingly well-composed fugue would slip from before my very eyes and remain unnoticed until now.

That's all I can say, for neither when listening nor while checking the score have any objections come to my mind in the slightiest. My sincerest congratulations for such a mighty yet synthetic display of contrapuntal prowess. Bravo!

Edited October 2, 20232 yr by Fugax Contrapunctus