Understanding the BACH Motif || Imitative Counterpoint 4

In this video we look at the B-A-C-H motif that J.S. Bach and other used as a musical representation of his name, and specifically the way that the motif is used as a fugue subject. As a fugue subject, the BACH motif is irregular. It does not always begin on the tonic or dominant scale degrees, and it is not obvious how best to interpret its chromaticism. This video shows how the motif has been harmonized in several different keys and how irregular fugue subjects in general can be handled by composers. At the end of the video, we also look briefly at a fugue subject derived from the notes of Franz Schubert's name.

Intro 0:00
Irregular Fugue Subjects 2:00
Bach BWV anh 108 (C major) 6:33
Bach BWV 898 (B-flat major) 8:16
Bach Art of Fugue (D minor) 10:01
Albrechtsberger op 3 (G minor) 11:02
Sechter's Fugue in Memorium of Schubert 12:24

My new counterpoint course on Teach:able

Kimiko Ishizaka, piano

Peter Bradley-Fulgoni, piano
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

#musictheory #composition #JSBach

[BigParadox]

This idea, that any short sequence of random notes can sound good if you set them into a certain context, is something I have been convinced of and fascinated by since I was young.

[mr.vaey]

Bach also uses this motive in some canons of “Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her” (BWV 769a)!
For example at the end of the canon “alla seconda” and at the end of the “Canon per augmentationem”.

[BernardGreenberg]

Another way of dealing with irregular entry notes is to supply an independent bass, happens all over the Cantatas, the B Minor mass, etc, (even though those subjects are largely "regular").

[Tylervrooman]

Theses are great videos...been listening to Emerson String Quartet play Art of fugue. So good.

[ApplestreamRuben]

I'd harmonize the Bach motive in C minor, treating the A as part of F major, creating this dorian sound, and making the "H" part of the G Major dominant chord

[Photologistic]

Jacob, these are really interesting, but I’m a bit lost in some parts. Sounds like the playlists are the way to go, but which should I start with? Thank you.

[fuzfckz]

Don't forget that the C-Sharp Minor fugue from the WTC 1 has the same BACH subject (with different tones of course because of the key)

[nicolasfrancotango]

Gracias por poner subtítulos en español!!!🙏❤️ Sería genial si se pudiera hacer con los otros vídeos que no tienen! Gracias!🙏

[DanielSilva-gcxz]

13:09 anywhere I can hear this complete? I haven’t found it on YouTube

[treypoling]

Where did you find information on Simon Sechter's memorial? I really want to listen to the full version but I can't find anything about it on the internet other that old books saying that it exists.

[bigprovola]

May I argue that the syllables Fa and Mi show that this subject is not actually chromatic? In chromaticism, where a minor third transmutes into a major third, there is no change of syllable, so what is H and sung Mi in the subject would instead be B# and sung Fa.

[igeeklabs]

Y desde cuándo el si natural es representado por la letra H? 😼😼😼😂😋😋😋😋 El comienzo si lo creo, B - A - C, pero de dónde sale la ¿H?

[chessematics]

Bruh my name has only an S and H that can be used as a musical note....my papa gave me a tritone.

[a.f.]

The supposed « Bach motif fa mi soft/fa mi hard » is erroneous.
There are absolutely no mi or fa or soft or hard or F or G in the Bach motif.
There is only ONE Bach motif :
English : B flat / A / C / B - French : si bémol / la / do / si. - German : B / A / C / H

[Der.Kleine.General]

People who mispronounce the name Bach deserve to be deaf.