Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist,
harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and
secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo
instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque
period and brought it to its ultimate maturity.
Although he did not introduce new forms, he enriched
the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal
technique, an unrivalled control of harmonic and
motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms,
forms and textures from abroad, p...(+)
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist,
harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and
secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo
instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque
period and brought it to its ultimate maturity.
Although he did not introduce new forms, he enriched
the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal
technique, an unrivalled control of harmonic and
motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms,
forms and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy
and France.
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710-1784) was the oldest son
of J.S. Bach and, like many of his younger siblings,
became a talented keyboard player and composer. In
1720, his father began work on the Clavier-Büchlein, a
collection of instructive keyboard works written for
Wilhelm Friedemann that contains, among others things,
the Inventions (15) (BWV 772-86) and Sinfonias (15)
(BWV 787-801). It also includes this Fugue in C major,
a lively work whose appreciable technical challenges
suggest the considerable keyboard skills young Wilhelm
Friedemann must already have possessed in his early
teens. The work opens with a rapid, repeating figure of
four notes that Bach expands on, seeming to obtain the
highest yield from not necessarily promising material.
The music hurries about, accruing lively contrapuntal
elements along its busy path. Its pacing is breathless
and its mood joyous, if a bit harried. As it proceeds,
it takes on greater complexity, but rarely is the
four-note motif presented at the outset not heard. The
piece lasts only about a minute-and-a-quarter -- or
should, when played at the proper tempo. Despite its
brevity, this little fugue offers substantial rewards
for the listener.
Although originally written for Harpsichord. I created
this Interpretation of the Fugue in C Major (BWV 953)
for Woodwind Trio (Oboe, Bb Clarinet & Bassoon).
SHEET MUSIC