Fugue in F-sharp minor for String Quartet.

To commemorate the date designated as Bach's actual birthday under the Gregorian calendar, this time I have decided to upload the definitive revised version of another one of my previous fugues, originally in the key of E minor though still for the same ensemble.

I would also like to dedicate this fugue as a birthday present to my dear friend Julia as well, whose family has been going through exceedingly difficult times for more than one year now. Since the loss of a very special loved one has taken a severe toll on us all, my sincerest hope now is that she and her family can start anew and rebuild their lives from the ashes of their grief, even when all hope for a better future seems gone forever and endless mourning seems to be the only thing left to live for.

Bach himself was no stranger to painful, heart-wrenching losses. Even as he lost both parents at age 10, his first wife at 35, and in line with the astronomical infant mortality rates of his era, more than half of his 20 children during childhood, he was likely reassured that his dedication to God alone through his music would be worthy of a place in Heaven for all those he loved and whose safety he prayed for daily.

This key of F-sharp minor in our currently standardized A = 440 tuning always evoked in me a far greater sense of mourning in the wake of tragedy than any other. Perhaps because of this reason I felt naturally drawn to it when thinking of those precious loved ones we may have lost along the way, the precious, cherished moments that will never again come to pass, and the longing memories broken by the sudden wound their departure left forever imprinted in our hearts.

Scrolling video link (YouTube)

Fugue in F-sharp minor for String Quartet.pdf

Edited March 31Mar 31 by Fugax Contrapunctus

This is a beautiful fugue, well-developed and carefully crafted such that each voice has its "time to shine." The voice leading is impeccable! Honestly, I don't have any critiques to offer, just wanted to applaud your efforts here.

(I do have a comment on the recording: it sounded like the violins were on constant portamento. I'm not sure if that was intended but it was a little off-putting to me.)

Happy composing!

Best,
Jordan

Hi @Fugax Contrapunctus !

I concur with Jordan! I think this fugue is one of your best! I especially like the ending. It doesn't overwhelm the listener with overactive counterpoint. Concerning the portamento I'll once again quote what @Alex Weidmann taught me in a previous post:

On 8/10/2025 at 8:32 AM, Alex Weidmann said:

That's actually easy to change. When the first note of the phrase is selected, Control-T brings up the little speaker icon above the staff. Then you click on it, and select "classic phrasing". 
(Why they've chosen to have portamento phrasing by default is beyond me!)

Thanks for sharing!