Difference between revisions of "Fugue"

(New page: '''Fugue''' (from Italian "fuga," or flight) describes both a musical technique and a musical texture, based on strict rules of counterpoint, which flourished in German music of the 18...)
 
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'''Fugue''' (from Italian "fuga," or flight) describes both a musical technique and a musical texture, based on strict rules of [[counterpoint]], which flourished in German music of the 18th century, but has been used since then as a vehicle for elevated emotions. [[J.S. Bach]] is considered the master of the fugue, and fugues also played an important role in the late works of [[Beethoven]] and [[Shostakovich]].
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A '''fugue''' (from Italian "fuga," or flight) is often described as "a movement of continuity" or a piece that focuses on both musical technique and musical texture. Generally speaking, the fugue is not considered a musical structure because it is infinitely variable. It is rather a style or method of [[counterpoint|contrapuntal]] writing which may or may not be distinguished into finite sections. The fugue is not simply an exercise in advanced contrapuntal technique. To the composers in the 18th century, especially [[J.S. Bach]] and [[Handel]], the fugue was a means of expressing the most heightened forms of emotion. Later composers, notably [[Beethoven]] in his late works and [[Dmitri Shostakovich]], used the fugue within larger works in the same manner.
  
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[[category:musical terms]]
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[[Category:Musical Terms]]

Latest revision as of 15:28, July 28, 2016

A fugue (from Italian "fuga," or flight) is often described as "a movement of continuity" or a piece that focuses on both musical technique and musical texture. Generally speaking, the fugue is not considered a musical structure because it is infinitely variable. It is rather a style or method of contrapuntal writing which may or may not be distinguished into finite sections. The fugue is not simply an exercise in advanced contrapuntal technique. To the composers in the 18th century, especially J.S. Bach and Handel, the fugue was a means of expressing the most heightened forms of emotion. Later composers, notably Beethoven in his late works and Dmitri Shostakovich, used the fugue within larger works in the same manner.