The WTF Bach Podcast The 2nd/3rd Fugues in The Art of Fugue: What is a Clavichord? Our first countersubject!
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Mar 22, 2020 AI Snips
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The Clavichord's Intimate Sound
- The clavichord is an intensely intimate and quiet instrument, so much so that normal conversation drowns it out.
- Bach may have favored it for its subtlety and practicality for family practice sessions.
Refrigerator Incident Highlights Quietness
- A refrigerator turning off during recording was picked up by the microphone, showing how quiet the clavichord is.
- Ambient sounds can profoundly affect the atmosphere in clavichord recordings.
Permutability of the Fugue Subject
- Bach demonstrates the permutability of a fugue subject by playing it straight, swung, and upside down.
- This technique will expand over 14 fugues, showcasing the subject's malleability.