Lessons · Showcase

Little Fugue in G minor

BWV 578: subject, answer, stretto

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% The Little Fugue's SUBJECT: the singing head (tonic, fifth,
% the sighing turn), then the walking sixteenth tail. One rule, in
% degrees of g harmonic minor (7 is the leading tone f#):
 
bpm 100
key g4 harm
 
Head ::= 1 _4 5 _4 3 _3 2 1 _2 3 _2 2 _2 1 _2 .7 _2 2 _2 .5 _4
Tail ::= 1 _2 .5 _2 2 _2 .5 _2 3 _2 2 1 2 _2 .5 _2 1 2 3 _2 1 _2
Subject ::= Head Tail
 
Subject
 
 
% The ANSWER states the subject at the fifth: one mark. Put it
% over the subject's own tail and the exposition builds itself:
 
{Subject}@7
{Subject Subject, - _52 {Subject}@7}
 
 
% STRETTO by slicing: the subject's head chases itself before the
% whole statement finishes. '[0:9]' takes just the head's items
% (each voice rests out the balance so nothing stretches):
 
{Subject[0:9] - _16, - _8 Subject[0:9] @7 - _8, - _16 Subject[0:9] @12}
 
 
% Middle ENTRIES visit the neighbors: the subject in B-flat (the
% relative major, two scale steps up), then back at the fifth, the
% road between them paved with EPISODES that sequence the tail:
 
Subject @~2
Tail @~2 Tail @~1 Tail
Subject @7
 
 
% Bach also turns material UPSIDE DOWN: '^' reflects around the
% key axis, so the falling tail climbs. Alone, then against itself:
 
Tail
Tail ^
{Tail Tail, - _22 Tail ^}
 
 
% The whole fugue in outline: exposition, episode, the relative-
% major entry, inverted episode work, the stretto squeeze, and the
% last entry in the bass under a Picardy close:
 
{Subject Subject, - _52 {Subject}@7}
Tail Tail@~-1 Tail@~-2
Subject @~2
Tail ^ Tail ^ @~-1 Tail ^ @~-2
{Subject[0:9] - _16, - _8 Subject[0:9] @7 - _8, - _16 Subject[0:9] @12}
{Subject}@-12 {1Maj _8, .1 _8}
 
 
% THE WHOLE FUGUE: the top voice at full length, all 68 measures
% from the verified grammar: every entry, every episode, the final
% cadence.
 
bpm 120
meter 4
unit 1/4
key g4 min
mode diatonic
instrument swell
 
% The cast, every motif and chord the lead line uses:
 
M67 ::= d5 _3 -
M17 ::= 1 _3 - M67 3 _5 -
M9 ::= M17 2 _2
M30 ::= .1 _2 .3 _2
M25 ::= a4 _2 d5 _2? g4
M34 ::= d4 _3 -
M24 ::= 1 _2 .5 _2 2 _2 .5 _2
M70 ::= a3 _2 d3 _2
M6 ::= bb3 _2 a3 g3 M70
M88 ::= d3 g3
M7 ::= g3 _2 M88 a3 _2 d3 a3 bb3 _2 a3 g3
S1 ::= M9 M30@~7 M25 .7 _2? .7# 2 _2 M34 M24 M6@12 M7@12
Run2 ::= 3 2 1
M26 ::= 4 Run2
S5 ::= M26 Run2
M71 ::= f#4 a4
Run ::= g4 a4 bb4
M68 ::= c5 d5
M66 ::= f5 e5
M83 ::= M66 5
S24 ::= M68 7b M83
M69 ::= g5 f5
Trill ::= d5/2 c5/2 d5/2 c5/2 d5/2 c5/2
M38 ::= '3/2 '2/2
M20 ::= '5 '4 '5 Run2@~10 '3
S8 ::= e5 f#5? f5 a5 g5 a5 c#5 a5 g5 a5 d5 a5 g5 a5 c#5 a5 g5 a5 f#5? f5 d5 c#5 d5 g5 d5 c#5 d5 a5 d5 c#5 d5 g5 d5 c#5
M15 ::= .3 _3/2 - _5/2
M41 ::= c5 bb4 c5
M86 ::= d5 c5
M56 ::= i-2 i2
M72 ::= g5 f#5 g5
S21 ::= 5 M56 .7 5 M56
M31 ::= g3 _3 -
M87 ::= M67 4 _3
M13 ::= bb3 _3/2 - _5/2 a3 _3/2
S19 ::= '2 Run2@~7 M66 5 5b
M4 ::= M38 M38
M23 ::= M4 M4 M38 M4 M38
M18 ::= .5 _13/2 - _3/2
S12 ::= 5 _2 M38@~-2 _4 M18@~8 6 _2 2 _2? 4 M38@~-3 _4
S7 ::= c5 b4 a4 c5 b4 a4 g#4? g4 b4 a4
S16 ::= 2 1 .5 .6 .7 1 2? .5 Run 5b? 1 3
M11 ::= M25 f#4 _2 a4 _2 M34
S6 ::= bb4 _5 - M25 bb4 _2 M11 g4 _2 d4 _2 a4 _2 d4 _2 M6@12 M7@12 a4 d4 d5 c5 bb4 a4 g4 bb4 a4 g4 f#4 a4 g4 d5? bb4 bb4? c5 d5 g4? eb5 bb4
M84 ::= a4 g4
S20 ::= Run2@~-1 .6 Run 4
M57 ::= .5 .4 .5
M14 ::= Run2@-8/2 .5b/2 M57 .7b
S2 ::= M20@~-8 4 M20@~-9 3
M76 ::= 2 _2 M15@~11
M85 ::= g4 a4
M59 ::= 7 6 7 '1
M92 ::= c5 a4
M93 ::= 7b 5
S15 ::= M4@-20 M14
M3 ::= 7/2 Trill@5*2 '1/2
M49 ::= '1/2 M3 M3 7/2
M77 ::= f5 _3 -
M63 ::= .4 .5 .3
S14 ::= 6# '1 6# '1 4 6# 1 4b? 3 2 '4 '2 '4 7? 7b '2 5b? 4 6#
M89 ::= d4 e4
M80 ::= i-5 i-7
S22 ::= Run2@~-14 ..5 M80 ..4
S18 ::= M15@-3 _2 .1 S22@~7
M60 ::= '1 _2 '2 _2
M81 ::= - 5 _7 -
M61 ::= .5 _2 .6 _2
S11 ::= 2 3 2? 3 3? 5 M26 .7 .6
M19 ::= M57 ..7# M57
M8 ::= .3 M19
M29 ::= g4 f#4 g4
M21 ::= M29 4 M29
M10 ::= 3 M21
 
key d4 harm
key g4 harm
key d4 harm
meter 2
key g4 min
meter 4
key c4 harm
key g4 min
meter 1
meter 3
meter 4
key g4 harm
key g4 min
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F1a ::= S1 2 .5 5 S5 M71 1 .5 Run S24 M83 5b 7b 5 _2 M25#2 7b _2
F1a
 
key d4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F7a ::= '3 M69 '4 Trill@7 M38~@~1 M20 S8 '1
F7a
 
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F10a ::= | 5 _2 '3 _2 4 _2 '2 _2 3 _2 M25#2 '3 _2 |
F10a
 
key g4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F11a1 ::= 6 _2 M15@~13 M38@-7 _4 M15@~12 5 _2 M41 M86 '2 M56 3 M72 2 7 M56 '1 _13/2 - _19/2 - _8 3 S21
F11a2 ::= 1 S21 3 _3 - M31@17 M87 - _3 M13@12 -/2
F11a1 F11a2
 
 
% Part 2, from m.1
 
key d4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F17a ::= | - _2 1 _2 Run 4 M25#2 M30@~13 |
F17a
 
meter 2
key g4 min
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F18a1 ::= S19
  | M15@~9 M15@~13 |
  | 7b _3/2 - _9/2 '2 _2 |
  M23
F18a2 ::= | M23 |*3
  | M20@~-3 7b |
F18a3 ::= 7 _2 {7, 2} _2 {7, 5} _2 {7, 4} _2 3 _2 S12 M67 5 M72
F18a4 ::= M31@17 S7 1 .7# S16 M68 2 M86 S6 M84
F18a1 F18a2 F18a3 F18a4
 
meter 4
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F33a1 ::= M71 3 M68 S20 1 .7 .7b
F33a2 ::= .5 .7 Run S20@~3 S5@~4 Run2@~1 S16#4@~2 7b M4@-5 M14@15 Run2@~4 S8#4@-4 M41 5 3 Run2@~3 6 S2@~1 M20@~-9 3
F33a1 F33a2
 
 
% Part 3, from m.1
 
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F41a1 ::= M76 M38@-14 _4 M15@~10 1 _2 M76@~-2 2 _2 M85 M26 .7 M59@~-8 Run M92 3 .7 Run M41 M93 M93 S15@15 7 _2*2
F41a2 ::= M49 M38@~-2 M49 M38~@~-3 M59 4 _3 '2 M20@~-2 7 M20@~-6 3 M20@~-3 6
F41a3 ::= M20@~-7 2 M69 S19@-2 4 M59@~-2 4 M77 7 '2b M69
F41a1 F41a2 F41a3
 
key c4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F51a1 ::= M18@~12 '3 M68 '3 '4 M63@~15 7b M68 7b M15@~9 M31@17 M31@24
F51a2 ::= S6#8@5 5 7b S14 S14#8@-2 M71 5b M89 .6# 1 -
F51a1 F51a2
 
key g4 min
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F60a ::= .3 _2 1 _2 .2 _2 .7# _2 S18@12 3 S22@~16 5 Run2@~4 '1 M80 M66 '1 M66 '2 M80 '1
F60a
 
meter 1
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
M77
 
 
% Part 4, from m.1
 
meter 3
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F64a ::= M60 M18@~12
F64a
 
meter 4
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F65a1 ::= 6 _7 M81 4 _7 - M15@21 _2 - _2 5 _2 M61@~10 Run2@~7 '2 S11#4@9 3 2 M8@12
F65a2 ::= | M8@12 M10 |
  | 5 M21 3 _2 '1 _2 2 _2 7# _2 |
F65a1 F65a2
 
key g4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F72a ::= '1 _13
F72a

% The Little Fugue's SUBJECT: the singing head (tonic, fifth,
% the sighing turn), then the walking sixteenth tail. One rule, in
% degrees of g harmonic minor (7 is the leading tone f#):

bpm 100
key g4 harm

Head ::= 1 _4 5 _4 3 _3 2 1 _2 3 _2 2 _2 1 _2 .7 _2 2 _2 .5 _4
Tail ::= 1 _2 .5 _2 2 _2 .5 _2 3 _2 2 1 2 _2 .5 _2 1 2 3 _2 1 _2
Subject ::= Head Tail

Subject

% The ANSWER states the subject at the fifth: one mark. Put it
% over the subject's own tail and the exposition builds itself:

{Subject}@7
{Subject Subject, - _52 {Subject}@7}

% STRETTO by slicing: the subject's head chases itself before the
% whole statement finishes. '[0:9]' takes just the head's items
% (each voice rests out the balance so nothing stretches):

{Subject[0:9] - _16, - _8 Subject[0:9] @7 - _8, - _16 Subject[0:9] @12}

% Middle ENTRIES visit the neighbors: the subject in B-flat (the
% relative major, two scale steps up), then back at the fifth, the
% road between them paved with EPISODES that sequence the tail:

Subject @~2
Tail @~2 Tail @~1 Tail
Subject @7

% Bach also turns material UPSIDE DOWN: '^' reflects around the
% key axis, so the falling tail climbs. Alone, then against itself:

Tail
Tail ^
{Tail Tail, - _22 Tail ^}

% The whole fugue in outline: exposition, episode, the relative-
% major entry, inverted episode work, the stretto squeeze, and the
% last entry in the bass under a Picardy close:

{Subject Subject, - _52 {Subject}@7}
Tail Tail@~-1 Tail@~-2
Subject @~2
Tail ^ Tail ^ @~-1 Tail ^ @~-2
{Subject[0:9] - _16, - _8 Subject[0:9] @7 - _8, - _16 Subject[0:9] @12}
{Subject}@-12 {1Maj _8, .1 _8}

% THE WHOLE FUGUE: the top voice at full length, all 68 measures
% from the verified grammar: every entry, every episode, the final
% cadence.

bpm 120
meter 4
unit 1/4
key g4 min
mode diatonic
instrument swell

% The cast, every motif and chord the lead line uses:

M67 ::= d5 _3 -
M17 ::= 1 _3 - M67 3 _5 -
M9 ::= M17 2 _2
M30 ::= .1 _2 .3 _2
M25 ::= a4 _2 d5 _2? g4
M34 ::= d4 _3 -
M24 ::= 1 _2 .5 _2 2 _2 .5 _2
M70 ::= a3 _2 d3 _2
M6 ::= bb3 _2 a3 g3 M70
M88 ::= d3 g3
M7 ::= g3 _2 M88 a3 _2 d3 a3 bb3 _2 a3 g3
S1 ::= M9 M30@~7 M25 .7 _2? .7# 2 _2 M34 M24 M6@12 M7@12
Run2 ::= 3 2 1
M26 ::= 4 Run2
S5 ::= M26 Run2
M71 ::= f#4 a4
Run ::= g4 a4 bb4
M68 ::= c5 d5
M66 ::= f5 e5
M83 ::= M66 5
S24 ::= M68 7b M83
M69 ::= g5 f5
Trill ::= d5/2 c5/2 d5/2 c5/2 d5/2 c5/2
M38 ::= '3/2 '2/2
M20 ::= '5 '4 '5 Run2@~10 '3
S8 ::= e5 f#5? f5 a5 g5 a5 c#5 a5 g5 a5 d5 a5 g5 a5 c#5 a5 g5 a5 f#5? f5 d5 c#5 d5 g5 d5 c#5 d5 a5 d5 c#5 d5 g5 d5 c#5
M15 ::= .3 _3/2 - _5/2
M41 ::= c5 bb4 c5
M86 ::= d5 c5
M56 ::= i-2 i2
M72 ::= g5 f#5 g5
S21 ::= 5 M56 .7 5 M56
M31 ::= g3 _3 -
M87 ::= M67 4 _3
M13 ::= bb3 _3/2 - _5/2 a3 _3/2
S19 ::= '2 Run2@~7 M66 5 5b
M4 ::= M38 M38
M23 ::= M4 M4 M38 M4 M38
M18 ::= .5 _13/2 - _3/2
S12 ::= 5 _2 M38@~-2 _4 M18@~8 6 _2 2 _2? 4 M38@~-3 _4
S7 ::= c5 b4 a4 c5 b4 a4 g#4? g4 b4 a4
S16 ::= 2 1 .5 .6 .7 1 2? .5 Run 5b? 1 3
M11 ::= M25 f#4 _2 a4 _2 M34
S6 ::= bb4 _5 - M25 bb4 _2 M11 g4 _2 d4 _2 a4 _2 d4 _2 M6@12 M7@12 a4 d4 d5 c5 bb4 a4 g4 bb4 a4 g4 f#4 a4 g4 d5? bb4 bb4? c5 d5 g4? eb5 bb4
M84 ::= a4 g4
S20 ::= Run2@~-1 .6 Run 4
M57 ::= .5 .4 .5
M14 ::= Run2@-8/2 .5b/2 M57 .7b
S2 ::= M20@~-8 4 M20@~-9 3
M76 ::= 2 _2 M15@~11
M85 ::= g4 a4
M59 ::= 7 6 7 '1
M92 ::= c5 a4
M93 ::= 7b 5
S15 ::= M4@-20 M14
M3 ::= 7/2 Trill@5*2 '1/2
M49 ::= '1/2 M3 M3 7/2
M77 ::= f5 _3 -
M63 ::= .4 .5 .3
S14 ::= 6# '1 6# '1 4 6# 1 4b? 3 2 '4 '2 '4 7? 7b '2 5b? 4 6#
M89 ::= d4 e4
M80 ::= i-5 i-7
S22 ::= Run2@~-14 ..5 M80 ..4
S18 ::= M15@-3 _2 .1 S22@~7
M60 ::= '1 _2 '2 _2
M81 ::= - 5 _7 -
M61 ::= .5 _2 .6 _2
S11 ::= 2 3 2? 3 3? 5 M26 .7 .6
M19 ::= M57 ..7# M57
M8 ::= .3 M19
M29 ::= g4 f#4 g4
M21 ::= M29 4 M29
M10 ::= 3 M21

key d4 harm
key g4 harm
key d4 harm
meter 2
key g4 min
meter 4
key c4 harm
key g4 min
meter 1
meter 3
meter 4
key g4 harm
key g4 min
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F1a ::= S1 2 .5 5 S5 M71 1 .5 Run S24 M83 5b 7b 5 _2 M25#2 7b _2
F1a

key d4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F7a ::= '3 M69 '4 Trill@7 M38~@~1 M20 S8 '1
F7a

% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F10a ::= | 5 _2 '3 _2 4 _2 '2 _2 3 _2 M25#2 '3 _2 |
F10a

key g4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F11a1 ::= 6 _2 M15@~13 M38@-7 _4 M15@~12 5 _2 M41 M86 '2 M56 3 M72 2 7 M56 '1 _13/2 - _19/2 - _8 3 S21
F11a2 ::= 1 S21 3 _3 - M31@17 M87 - _3 M13@12 -/2
F11a1 F11a2

% Part 2, from m.1

key d4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F17a ::= | - _2 1 _2 Run 4 M25#2 M30@~13 |
F17a

meter 2
key g4 min
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F18a1 ::= S19
  | M15@~9 M15@~13 |
  | 7b _3/2 - _9/2 '2 _2 |
  M23
F18a2 ::= | M23 |*3
  | M20@~-3 7b |
F18a3 ::= 7 _2 {7, 2} _2 {7, 5} _2 {7, 4} _2 3 _2 S12 M67 5 M72
F18a4 ::= M31@17 S7 1 .7# S16 M68 2 M86 S6 M84
F18a1 F18a2 F18a3 F18a4

meter 4
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F33a1 ::= M71 3 M68 S20 1 .7 .7b
F33a2 ::= .5 .7 Run S20@~3 S5@~4 Run2@~1 S16#4@~2 7b M4@-5 M14@15 Run2@~4 S8#4@-4 M41 5 3 Run2@~3 6 S2@~1 M20@~-9 3
F33a1 F33a2

% Part 3, from m.1

% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F41a1 ::= M76 M38@-14 _4 M15@~10 1 _2 M76@~-2 2 _2 M85 M26 .7 M59@~-8 Run M92 3 .7 Run M41 M93 M93 S15@15 7 _2*2
F41a2 ::= M49 M38@~-2 M49 M38~@~-3 M59 4 _3 '2 M20@~-2 7 M20@~-6 3 M20@~-3 6
F41a3 ::= M20@~-7 2 M69 S19@-2 4 M59@~-2 4 M77 7 '2b M69
F41a1 F41a2 F41a3

key c4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F51a1 ::= M18@~12 '3 M68 '3 '4 M63@~15 7b M68 7b M15@~9 M31@17 M31@24
F51a2 ::= S6#8@5 5 7b S14 S14#8@-2 M71 5b M89 .6# 1 -
F51a1 F51a2

key g4 min
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F60a ::= .3 _2 1 _2 .2 _2 .7# _2 S18@12 3 S22@~16 5 Run2@~4 '1 M80 M66 '1 M66 '2 M80 '1
F60a

meter 1
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
M77

% Part 4, from m.1

meter 3
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F64a ::= M60 M18@~12
F64a

meter 4
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F65a1 ::= 6 _7 M81 4 _7 - M15@21 _2 - _2 5 _2 M61@~10 Run2@~7 '2 S11#4@9 3 2 M8@12
F65a2 ::= | M8@12 M10 |
  | 5 M21 3 _2 '1 _2 2 _2 7# _2 |
F65a1 F65a2

key g4 harm
% mm.1-6: Run; M25 in a bent variant · 2 voices.
F72a ::= '1 _13
F72a

running…edit it and it re-runs as you type

Little Fugue in G minor · Showcase