The fugue explained by Bach

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The fugue explained in a way that everybody can understand by Johann Sebastian Bach himself!

Music credits:

Hildegard von Bingen - "Alleluia Psallat"
performed by the San Fransisco Girls Chorus
with sincere gratitude.

English subtitles available
Nederlandse ondertitels beschikbaar
Sottotitoli disponibili in Italiano (grazie Barbara!)

[markharris]

Good counterpoint: triviality of meaning, profundity of feeling.

[burtwonk]

I don’t understand much about music theory so having the minor bits represented as “rain later” is brilliant for me. This was really eye opening!

[srothbardt]

Gould said a fugue is like a conversation while a sonata is like an essay.

[Aswaguespack]

Excellent explanation. I had to compose a fugue in my 3rd year as an Undergrad. My theory teacher wanted everyone to be able to understand the fugue even if one was not planning on attending Grad School. I did and it certainly helped!

[simonkormendy]

Out of all the classical composers in the history of mankind, JS Bach is undoubtedly my most favourite of all, every time I listen to one of Bach's compositions the notes always seem to sound like they belong together as if by some divine will, it is well known that JS Bach was himself a devout Lutheran who composed his music for the glory of God.

[inhorama]

Praise to you, this is a fantastic pedagogical material and it's very pleasant to watch ! Also the fugue of Master Bach is incredibly good, this is awesome.

[roybatty]

To think that Bach achieved all this complex symmetry without the help of multitrack recording or the inspiration of LSD… what a brain. Great video, thanks.

[winterdesert]

Part II explains how Bach composed over 1, 128 pieces of music while fathering 20 children and working as Cantor/director, that included seven-part fugues, six-part fugues, triple fugues, and "reversed" canons.

[lawrencetaylor]

I am a devout non-musician who was born with two left ears and joked about my voice until 65 yoa, I bought a piano, and am trying to change my ways.
I'm trying to learn keyboard technique, and I'm amazed you can keep all those lines in your head, and in your fingers.
Merci beaucoup for this video, excellent teaching tool.
And yes, the weather is nice.

[dezainaa]

I had no intention of learning what fugues are until I accidentally started this video. Excellent lecture and presentation! I love the breakdown and use of characters and metaphors.

[mestremusico]

Its etymology explains it all: from Latin Fuga "to flee". The voices are always chasing each other.

[mfd]

Thank you so much, dear Mr Fielding, for all your precioius work on these delicate and important Bach-videos. My family and I are appreciating each one of them a lot!

[alfonsoroman]

min. 0:46 Here you can see the Spanish King Alfonso X of Castile "The Wise" (1221–1284) in the process of composing and simultaneously transcribing into notation his "Cantigas de Santa Maria", 420 poems with musical notation. Simply amazing!

[sleethmitchell]

i made my living playing banjo. but it was always j s bach that grabbed me. it truly travels in a most mysterious way. despite your clear exposition. thanks!

[Ciaccona]

I almost gave up in the middle but i kept listening and it all turned into a clear bright day. Thank you☀️

[marius]

Hi! Which Bach piece is played as an example from 6:00 onwards? I'm desperately looking for it!

[timz]

Animated Bach swaying back and forth is giving me an unsettling feeling.

[LeroyCologne]

Thanks so much, this is really a great help for getting access to the secrets of the fugue. And a charming idea to let Bach himself explain. (Nicely done, too!) This surely won't be the last episode of this series for me to watch.

[trimatch-king]

It took some time to imagine Herr Bach speaking like that! But the quality and ultra important information, mainly, to the young generation of this video, is superb!!! Bravissimo! Sharing right now! TMK

[BlossomedJewelsOfficial]

My parents finally allowed me to take piano lessons and since I’ll be starting soon I decided to watch this video and I’m so glad I did it’s amazing!!!