Ep. 116: Chromatic Finale Of The First Half, BWV 857

We’ve traveled halfway through the chromatic scale and Bach celebrates this victory with one of the more complex fugues in the collection. The subject is somber, full of half-steps and even a cross. It foreshadows the true finale at the close of all 24 pieces:

This is one of the only fugues to make strict use of the countersubject, occurring in all but one (!) appearances of the subject.

This motif, which we call the head of the countersubject, dominates all the episodic material both right side up, and upside down:

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The prelude contains some interesting revisions. Here is one I thought would be too subtle to hear, but I think it’s quite audible in the episode:

The latter represents a rare simplification of harmony and texture in revision.

The biggest addendum of all is the additional measures at the end of the piece. See how abruptly the early version ends:

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Concepts Covered:

J.S. Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier, Tuning, Revisions, Early verisions. The f minor prelude and fugue BWV 857, with its countersubject, analysis and study. Organ and harpsichord performances, Chromaticism, tone-rows,

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