Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562
Encyclopedia
The Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 is a relatively short piece written for the organ
by Johann Sebastian Bach
. Bach began the composition during his time in Weimar
, and an unfinished fugue
, probably by Bach, was added in his later life. The piece features an interesting heavily appoggiatura-laden harmony.
, as an organist and member of the court orchestra; he was particularly encouraged to make use of his unique talents with the organ. During his tenure at Weimar his fame as an organist grew, and many students of the organ visited him to hear him play and to learn from his technique. The composer also wrote many of his greatest organ works during the period, including the Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
and the Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566
. The Fantasia and Fugue in C minor was begun during this period, as a lone fantasia
in the title key. The fugue was added in 1745, most likely by Bach, but possibly by one of his students or sons. This piece is one of a few by Bach with a considerable period between the composition of its component sections.
passage begins.
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
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...
. Bach began the composition during his time in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, and an unfinished fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
, probably by Bach, was added in his later life. The piece features an interesting heavily appoggiatura-laden harmony.
Composition
Bach was hired in 1708 by the ruling duke of Saxe-Weimar, Wilhelm ErnstWilliam Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Weimar was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.He was born in Weimar, the eldest son of Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg....
, as an organist and member of the court orchestra; he was particularly encouraged to make use of his unique talents with the organ. During his tenure at Weimar his fame as an organist grew, and many students of the organ visited him to hear him play and to learn from his technique. The composer also wrote many of his greatest organ works during the period, including the Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, is a piece of organ music attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach. It is one of the most famous works in the organ repertoire, and has been used in a variety of popular media ranging from film, video games, to rock music, and ringtones...
and the Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566
Prelude (Toccata) and fugue in E major, BWV 566
Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 is an organ work written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1708. It comprises four sections and is an earlywork of Bach's....
. The Fantasia and Fugue in C minor was begun during this period, as a lone fantasia
Fantasia (music)
The fantasia is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form ....
in the title key. The fugue was added in 1745, most likely by Bach, but possibly by one of his students or sons. This piece is one of a few by Bach with a considerable period between the composition of its component sections.
Analysis
The whole piece lasts about 6 minutes, and comprises an 81-bar fantasia and an unfinished fugue, of which 27 bars are written. The fantasia has a very imposing structure and sound, the feel of which is created by the piece's one-measure generative theme. This theme passes between five contrapuntal voices of the organ, with occasional movement into new ideas; even the pedal bass is used for the theme. An interesting feature to the theme is that it contains many appoggiaturas, which provide the piece with a slight virtuosic feel; the harmonies especially contain many such devices. The fugue is written in 6/4 time and uses a simple half–quarter rhythm. It ends abruptly in the middle of the 27th bar after the exposition of the five voices is completed and a strettoStretto
The term stretto comes from the Italian past participle of stringere, and means "narrow", "tight", or "close".In music the Italian term stretto has two distinct meanings:...
passage begins.
See also
- List of compositions for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach
External links
- Free download of BWV 562 recorded by James KibbieJames KibbieJames Kibbie is an American concert organist, recording artist and pedagogue. He is Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan.- Biography :James Kibbie was born in 1949 in Vinton, Iowa, USA...
on the 1724-30 Trost organ in the Stadtkirche, Waltershausen, Germany