Spongebob Fugue

A fugue I composed on the theme of "Spongbob Squarepants." Edit: Many of you have asked for the score; please find it at the following link! Please feel free to perform/record as you'd like -- just please give me credit when you do so!
Lastly, I'm thinking of composing another harpsichord fugue on a popular theme -- please feel free to give me suggestions in the comments!

[ianpritchard]

Thanks, everyone -- it's such a pleasant surprise to see this getting some attention! Because there have been some questions about fugue vs. not a fugue: this is certainly NOT a strict fugue in the "classical" (or Bachian) sense; however, I think if one takes a broader look at other fugues beyond Bach -- Buxtehude, Handel, partimento fugue (mentioning three specific influences here!)-- you might find some other points of comparison. Second: I am not a professional composer by any means, but I am a professional harpsichordist, and this fugue began life (quite intentionally!) as an improvisation. I really wanted improvisation to be the core part of the compositional process, and for the finished product to sound like a written-down improvisation!

[ShawnComposer]

I was eating a hamburger, now I am eating a Krabby patty.

[Rhythmmical]

"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" *up a scale degree* "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" *up a scale degree* "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"

[lanekarabani]

Future historians, im talking thousands of years in the future, are going to wonder if this predates spongebob and the theme was borrowed, or if spongebob predates this rendition. Perhaps my comment will be their only way of knowing, should we lose catalogs of when spongebob was released. Nevertheless, an amazing job at this composition and performance!

[MitchBoucherComposer]

Excellent, Ian! This is probably one of the best modern fugues I've ever heard.

[aimilios]

I like the Italian style! The pauses and chempallo really sell it. A great fugue!

[faded]

If this isn't played at my funeral, I ain't going.

[realrghnck]

The is what the people actually listened to in the dream episode where Spongebob turns into Squidward's clarinet.

Also, I really love the sequences where the bass descends in fifths. Makes it sound very authentic.

[jamesjarvis]

Very enjoyable! I think regarding some comments saying it isn’t a fugue, they’re not ‘wrong’ but also, not ‘right’. Most people base their knowledge of fugues on Bach (but many of his break the conventional understandings).

You’ve even said this is based on Buxtehude, who uses a lot more homophonic passages and breaks compared to Bach. So it’s definitely a fugue, but based on an older era - Bach adored Buxtehude, so win win.

I don’t think this theme would easily work alla Bach, but in this style it certainly does, so well done, great stuff! Wish I’d thought of it first..! (Still might give it a go though……)

[BaldPerspective]

God, I love when music memes are tackled in the most sincere way possible lol. I also love harpsichord, so great job!

[matttondr]

Amazing fugue! Also love whatever temperament the harpsichord is tuned in, really suits this piece.

Edit: So I’ve sight-read through the piece and I must say it is really fun to play as well and the modulations are quite satisfying.

[ummmuurdone]

I really appreciate that this is in baroque tuning!

[johnchessant]

Very nice inversion of spongebob squarepants in the bass at 2:52!
Btw I think this video is finally getting its well-deserved blessing by the algorithm :)

[justaweeb]

It's even played a semitone lower than concert pitch, amazing!

[icst]

Absolutely love the gigue-like texture. It works so well!

[xatnu]

Very nice, it has a sound of authenticity not common in these meme compositions, I salute you sir 👏👏👏👏

[arcobow]

This is brilliant! Really evokes Buxtehude and even reminds me of his Fugue in C buxwv 174. I can just imagine Ton Koopman playing this haha!

[joeyhardin]

I'm amazed at how you managed to accomplish this with such theme to work with

[followerofjulian]

“A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.”
Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism (1711)

[jessekaiser]

Young composer here who grew up on Spongebob. I am BLOWN AWAY by this. This is absolutely remarkable.