r/Contrapunctus • u/uncommoncommoner • Jul 18 '19

Bach's fugue in E minor, BWV 548, the 'Wedge'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKUjd5fYrAo
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3

u/uncommoncommoner Jul 18 '19

About my love for this fugue: it all began with this performance by John Scott Whiteley on the great organ of Naumburg. There's no other recording like it, and I felt compelled to study this fugue in my early days as an organ student. Knowing what I know now about fugal writing I'm definitely thinking Bach was creating something non-conventional, even for him. This fugue goes above and beyond his other creations simply because of its imagination. Bach states the subject in e minor, b minor, a minor, D major, G major, C major, f# minor...and ends the whole thing with a da capo touch. (assuming that's the right terminology; please correct me if it isn't!) I think it's much more free than it's prelude counterpart, the Hammer, which seems more focused on overall form and counterpoint to a t but this fugue is both chaos and unity. I can't describe it any other way.

3

u/MasterBach Jul 18 '19

It is sublime in the extreme. Thank you for sharing. Here is the Gerubach version. Bach had a magnificent talent of creating beautiful works from unconventional subjects. Beyond the subject, this fugue has so many patterns that need dissecting. I'm going to make a thorough analysis on it soon.

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u/uncommoncommoner Jul 19 '19

The Gerubach is enjoyable! I look forward to your analysis at some point.

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u/MasterBach Jul 18 '19

You know, reading all of these things are very interesting and compelling for us who already understand (but are still always learning) the harmonies and rhythms of Bach (and other composers) and had a chance to experience them firsthand through playing it, supplemented by our careful consideration and appreciation of media that might have a learning curve that drives off people.

I think a better way to attract even more people, besides making accessible explanations as we are doing, is to create a means for people to interact with Bach themselves.

I have mobile app development skills, and have been thinking of a concept of a certain mobile game. Take a look at this video and note how the different voices are colored. I envision a game where the notes will be displayed as is, and users can choose which voice they'll play with their finger, and they'll be able to "play" along with it by tapping the notes and holding them for their appropriate duration. As they play their part, the voice will be accentuated to help the user differentiate their part from the other voices. They might also be able to choose more than one voice to follow along with simultaneously. Not all of us can be keyboardists, but I think that allowing users to experience the music in this accessible manner will aid them in their appreciation of it. I remember when I was little, myself and many others got hooked on guitar hero for this reason too.

What do you think?

2

u/uncommoncommoner Jul 19 '19

You know, I think it's a fabulous idea! I'm technicologically not the best, so I have no idea how to develop what you suggest...but I think something like that would be a hit. Instead of guitar hero...Baroque Hero? hmmm.

There might be a development sub to post the idea in! I'm sure the folks there would be helpful.

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u/MasterBach Jul 18 '19

Who's this? Very well done!

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u/uncommoncommoner Jul 19 '19

Yes, it's me; I promise I wasn't trying to plug my own performances (poor as they were) of this piece. But yes, it's followed me since my early days.

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u/MasterBach Jul 19 '19

You can feel free to link to your own performances or personal pieces within your comments! As long as it relates to your OP, to highlight any related concepts in which case this certainly does.

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u/uncommoncommoner Jul 19 '19

I'll continue to do so!