Best or Rarer Fugues?
  • Geremia
    Posts: 269
    What are the best or rarer fugues ever composed?
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    The Art of Fugue
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    O... Also Pachelbels fugues on the 8 tones of the Magnificat
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    I can't go past the almost bone-crushingly elaborate fugue that Bach paired with his Dorian Toccata. The more often I play it, the more incidental beauties it reveals.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn Paul F. Ford
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    R J:

    Can you point us to the BWV on that one?
    Thanked by 1R J Stove
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    BTW... here are the Magnificat fugues:

    http://imslp.org/wiki/Compositionen_zumeist_Fugen_uber_das_Magnificat_(Pachelbel,_Johann)
    Thanked by 1Geremia
  • Marc Cerisier
    Posts: 537
    I love the fugue accompanying the bach 9/8 prelude in c major. (BWV 547 I think).

    The theme is very short, so there are entrances everywhere.
    Thanked by 2R J Stove Geremia
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    So many of the Bach organ fugues are just wonderful. Every time I learn a new one, I think it the best. Right now its the A minor BWV 543. But I also love the WTC fugues also.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn R J Stove
  • Geremia
    Posts: 269
    The first movement (allegro) of Vivaldi's Concerto for Strings in E Minor (RV 134) is fugal. It's the only Vivaldi fugue I know of:


    Any other composers besides Bach or Pachelbel?
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    Sorry, Francis, I forgot to put in the BWV number previously. It's 538. Here's a recording of both the Toccata and the Fugue (the Fugue seems substantially rarer on YouTube than the Toccata is) played by one of Australia's leading organists, Rhys Boak. Note that the Fugue doesn't begin till around the 6:45 point:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig-663_2hMk

    As for Vivaldi's fugues, don't forget the "Cum sancto spiritu" finale from the famous Vivaldi Gloria. (He based this fugue on a specimen by one G. M. Ruggieri, but unless I've totally mis-remembered H.C. Robbins Landon's Vivaldi biography, the best bits of the piece - including the trumpet entry - are Vivaldi's own.)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azS9Km5kK8g
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    shameless plug for two of my own (in the spirit of Bach): (you can hear a simulation and see the score through links on each page)

    http://myopus.com/fugueInBMinor.html

    http://myopus.com/fugueInDMinor.html
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    R.J.

    Thanks for the info. Nice.
    Thanked by 1R J Stove
  • ZacPB189ZacPB189
    Posts: 70
    Bruckner's Te Deum ends with a nice double fugue, as does his fifth symphony. Pachelbel and Buxtehude were also masterful with fugue-writing. Alan Hovhaness wrote a vast number of amazing fugues.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    Here's one Tough Mudder of a fugue: Max Reger's in D, Opus 59 No. 6. I have slaved over this in practice sessions for years, and even now I keep being reminded of Heifetz's alleged remark to Schoenberg. (Heifetz: "The only way I can play your Violin Concerto is for my left hand to grow a sixth finger." Schoenberg: "I can wait.")

    Likewise, the greatest aid to mastering this Reger fugue's pedal contortions would be the acquisition of five more toes. But this young-looking gentleman - even without that acquisition - seems to have the chops needed, only two small finger-slips detracting from the overall excellence:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql6AsLZP8oU
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    I was just listening to the Bruckner 5th with it's masterful double fugue in the development, and then at the coda the main theme of the first movement joins the double fugue material. It's a contrapuntal masterpiece.
    Thanked by 2R J Stove ZacPB189
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,980
    Whether best or rarest is up to individual opinion but I like some of the French fugues, such as by Couperin. They are sized just right for use at Sunday masses.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iOsSUzg8p0
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    The fugue in the 6th movement of Brahms' German Requiem is an example of glorious, affirmative writing to fit the text:

    Herr, du bist würdig zu nehmen Preis und Ehre und Kraft, denn du hast alle Dinge geschaffen, und durch deinen Willen haben sie das Wesen und sind geschaffen. (Offenbarung 4:11)

    Thou art worthy, o Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

    The fugue begins at 7:07 in this von Karajan recording by the Berlin Philharmonic and Wiener Singverein:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeaYYU623lI
    Thanked by 3R J Stove AndrewK Geremia
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Continuing, with great choral fugue writing, one has to mention the "Cum Sancto Spiritu" (conclusion of the Gloria) in the Bach B minor Mass. Here is the full score for this movement.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zDFaqjcLGU

    The Credo of the B minor Mass also concludes with a fugue at "Et expecto". The "Osanna in excelsis" is largely fugal, too. And the "Dona nobis pacem" movement is an inspired fugal composition.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpWY8UrYFJc
    Thanked by 1R J Stove
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    Amongst my favourites to play are Bach's b-minor (maybe the most elegant one), the great a-minor, and the e-minor (wedge), and the profoundly grand c-minor. Buxtehude's best contributions are the f#-minor and the E-Major. Titelouze's fugal writing in the final versets of his hymnes is nothing less than inspired; it is to be pitied that the works of this 'Father of the French organ school' did not have a more lasting influence on the developments of that school, which rather petered out in rococo drivel.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Ip0n690ow
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    2nd movement of Reger's Choralfantasie über "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," Op. 52

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hj46pMT1SFU

    "Other people write fugues; I live inside them." —Max Reger
    Thanked by 1R J Stove
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    Having trouble getting YouTube link to display correctly. Can somebody help? I've never done this on here before. Figured it out, I think.
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    "Rococo drivel": yes, I recently had to review a CD (Olivier Latry) which, notwithstanding its merits, was disfigured by a great chunk of French Revolutionary tripe from one Claude Balbastre (based on the Marseillaise and Ça Ira). Said tripe - making the sleaziest Lefébure-Wély sound, by comparison, like The Art of Fugue - inspired in me the thought: "Well, that's 5:27 of my life I'll never get back again." (By now, masochists can probably track down the offending item via YouTube. I shan't bother.)
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    Perhaps Bach's great and glorious g-minor is the most exciting, AND the most exhausting to play. The e-minor 'Cathedral' must be the most droll!... with the c-minor 'Legrenzi' not far behind.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,980
    Bring fugues of the fairest, bring fugues of the rarest,
    from garden and woodland and hillside and vale;
    Our full hearts are swelling, our glad fugues are telling
    the praise of the loveliest fugue of the vale...
    Thanked by 5CHGiffen francis R J Stove Andrew_Malton noel jones, aago
  • mrcoppermrcopper
    Posts: 653
    Not the best, for sure, but rarely heard are some of my fugues: Catch for Woodwind Quintet from Ellen's Alley and the 3rd part of Holy Day Overture (John 1:29). I'm working slowly on a set of 24 preludes and fugues for piano ... one of these days. My Moses at the Jordan River oratorio has several fugues.

    Catch: https://soundcloud.com/williamcopper/catch-fugue-for-ww-quintet

    Holy Day Part III: https://soundcloud.com/williamcopper/holy-day-overture-part-iii

    Both are so called "tonal" fugues, where the answer differs somewhat from the statement.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    My fugue in C Major, just published. (performed on my digital pedal harpsichord)

    http://www.myopus.com/fugueInCMajor.html
  • Mark P.
    Posts: 248
    The fugue from this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY7zXdy2tbc
    Thanked by 2francis Geremia
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-06sxXplDU
    Maurice Durufle's fugue on the name of Alain.
    One of the more beautiful and difficult fugues of the 20th century for organ.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    Kevin

    The link doesn't seem to work (or is it me?)
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Youtube videos should be copied with "https://" not "http://" ... here is the video Kevin was trying to post:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-06sxXplDU
    Thanked by 3R J Stove M. Jackson Osborn Geremia
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    That is a beautiful fugue. Thanks for sharing Kevin. (and CHG). Please explain console and organ. Builder? Etc.
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    Saint-Eustache, Paris:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Eustache,_Paris
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    Thank you for the info, Fr. Ron. What is very interesting is that there is a console sitting on the floor of the church for this performance. What is THAT?
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    francis, Kevin in Kentucky may possibly know if there are two consoles.

    Check out some youtube postings of Jean Guillou playing at St. Eustache, e.g., his recording of Dieu parmi nous. They provide a better view of the positioning of the console. Folks are entering the church in plain sight of the organist (if he is able to see over the top of the console).
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    There are two consoles ( an increasingly common site in Paris). The organ is a Dutch builder whom I cannot recall. A console in the tribune and a console on the floor. Mssr. Guillou, the organist at St. Eustache, is quite the showman.
    Jean Baptiste Robin ( the player) in the video is a wonderful and kind man. He is a marvelous player but very humble.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    Very interesting. The console must be on wheels and have a temporary plug, yes?
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    Here is a RARE fugue. I composed this for my Mac last year. He was complaining he doesn't get to do anything challenging. :-)

    http://www.myopus.com/preview/staircaseFugue.mp4
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    Thanked by 1ronkrisman
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    francis, your Mac is crying out for "more!" Magnificent piece.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    Fr. Ron... hmmm... yea, I know... this kinda stuff is just doodling around. Sorry... more magnificent stuff to come soon.
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    The console is on a long cord. It is kept in a corner of the church when not used. Ste. Clotilde (Franck's church) has one also. I have also heard of discussion for St Etienne du Mont ( Durufle's church) also. It is very concert friendly.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    OK... something more magnificent, Fr. Ron, and keeping in line with this thread on fugues.

    From 2001, the Sanctus Fugue from a large scale work I composed for 911 which was never performed.

    http://www.myopus.com/preview/sanctusFugue.mp4
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    The fugal sections of Buxtehude's Praeludia and Praeambula are fantastic. The Praeludium in E Major, BuxWV 141 is a particular favourite.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,980
    I have always liked the Little Fugue in G Minor, although I think it is too difficult to be called, "Little." One of my music teachers sang the lyrics to it, "My green socks have holes in the toes." I have never been able to disassociate those words from the music since.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    So many of the choral movements of Handel's "Messiah" ... to name a few:
    "For unto us a Child is born"
    "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"
    and, of course, the great "Amen" fugue that concludes the work.
    Thanked by 1R J Stove
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Then there's the Great Fugue in G Minor ("O Ebeneezer Prout").
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    @ CharlesW. There are many sets of words to the Bach fugue subjects, some of them quite profane (and funny.) My undergrad teacher taught many of them to us so as to help remember the subject.
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • francis
    Posts: 10,825
    I added an organ performance of my fugue in c major which you can listen to on this link.

    http://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/2565/great-fugue-in-c-major-by-koerber-old-thread-revised#Item_21
  • Geremia
    Posts: 269
    Wow, I've never heard of Duruflé, and Robin seems to be an excellent, young organist with a good taste in his repertoire.

    His Deux siecles d'orgue CD is a good collection of French organ works, including fugues.
  • Geremia
    Posts: 269
    I love the fugue accompanying the bach 9/8 prelude in c major. (BWV 547 I think).

    The theme is very short, so there are entrances everywhere.
    Marc Cerisier,

    You might be thinking of BWV 546's fugue, which has a pretty short, catchy theme.
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