Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Nationality:
German
Born: March 21, 1685, Eisenach Died: July 28, 1750, Leipzig (age 65)
Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue), BWV 1080
| 3:18 | I. | Contrapunctus 1 | |
| 2:51 | II. | Contrapunctus 2 | |
| 3:03 | III. | Contrapunctus 3 | |
| 4:10 | IV. | Contrapunctus 4 | |
| 3:13 | V. | Contrapunctus 5 | |
| 4:20 | VI. | Contrapunctus 6 a 4 in Stile Francese | |
| 3:36 | VII. | Contrapunctus 7 a 4 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem | |
| 5:59 | VIII. | Contrapunctus 8 a 3 | |
| 2:57 | IX. | Contrapunctus 9 a 4 alla Duodecima | |
| 4:27 | X. | Contrapunctus 10 a 4 alla Decima | |
| 6:01 | XI. | Contrapunctus 11 a 4 | |
| 2:49 | XII. | Contrapunctus 12 a 4 | |
| 2:45 | XIII. | Contrapunctus 13 a 3 | |
| 8:11 | XIV. | Contrapunctus 14 Fuga a 3 Soggetti (incomplete) | |
| 3:27 | XV. | Canon alla Ottava | |
| 4:51 | XVI. | Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza | |
| 4:21 | XVII. | Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta | |
| 6:20 | XVIII. | Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu |
Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes (approximately)
Composed:
1750 (age 64-65)
6 recordings,
74 videos
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autoplay
2:43
Delian Quartet
I.
Contrapunctus 1
2:30
Delian Quartet
II.
Contrapunctus 2
2:25
Delian Quartet
III.
Contrapunctus 3
4:19
Delian Quartet
IV.
Contrapunctus 4
3:05
Delian Quartet
V.
Contrapunctus 5
3:52
Delian Quartet
VI.
Contrapunctus 6 a 4 in Stile Francese
3:26
Delian Quartet
VII.
Contrapunctus 7 a 4 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem
5:26
Delian Quartet
VIII.
Contrapunctus 8 a 3
5:36
Delian Quartet
IX.
Contrapunctus 9 a 4 alla Duodecima
3:18
Delian Quartet
X.
Contrapunctus 10 a 4 alla Decima
5:30
Delian Quartet
XI.
Contrapunctus 11 a 4
1:43
Delian Quartet
XII.
Contrapunctus 12 a 4
1:53
Delian Quartet
XIII.
Contrapunctus 13 a 3
8:41
Delian Quartet
XIV.
Contrapunctus 14 Fuga a 3 Soggetti (incomplete)
3:39
Delian Quartet
XV.
Canon alla Ottava
3:38
Delian Quartet
XVI.
Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza
5:36
Delian Quartet
XVII.
Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta
6:45
Delian Quartet
XVIII.
Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu
4:11
Juilliard String Quartet
I.
Contrapunctus 1
2:30
Juilliard String Quartet
II.
Contrapunctus 2
3:54
Juilliard String Quartet
III.
Contrapunctus 3
3:23
Juilliard String Quartet
IV.
Contrapunctus 4
2:52
Juilliard String Quartet
V.
Contrapunctus 5
4:21
Juilliard String Quartet
VI.
Contrapunctus 6 a 4 in Stile Francese
2:29
Juilliard String Quartet
VII.
Contrapunctus 7 a 4 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem
6:07
Juilliard String Quartet
VIII.
Contrapunctus 8 a 3
2:14
Juilliard String Quartet
IX.
Contrapunctus 9 a 4 alla Duodecima
6:18
Juilliard String Quartet
X.
Contrapunctus 10 a 4 alla Decima
5:55
Juilliard String Quartet
XI.
Contrapunctus 11 a 4
3:23
Juilliard String Quartet
XII.
Contrapunctus 12 a 4
2:03
Juilliard String Quartet
XIII.
Contrapunctus 13 a 3
10:03
Juilliard String Quartet
XIV.
Contrapunctus 14 Fuga a 3 Soggetti (incomplete)
2:11
Juilliard String Quartet
XV.
Canon alla Ottava
6:19
Juilliard String Quartet
XVI.
Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza
4:05
Juilliard String Quartet
XVII.
Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta
7:18
Juilliard String Quartet
XVIII.
Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu
3:04
Emerson String Quartet
I.
Contrapunctus 1
2:45
Emerson String Quartet
II.
Contrapunctus 2
2:31
Emerson String Quartet
III.
Contrapunctus 3
3:31
Emerson String Quartet
IV.
Contrapunctus 4
2:33
Emerson String Quartet
V.
Contrapunctus 5
4:11
Emerson String Quartet
VI.
Contrapunctus 6 a 4 in Stile Francese
3:07
Emerson String Quartet
VII.
Contrapunctus 7 a 4 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem
4:55
Emerson String Quartet
VIII.
Contrapunctus 8 a 3
2:14
Emerson String Quartet
IX.
Contrapunctus 9 a 4 alla Duodecima
3:03
Emerson String Quartet
X.
Contrapunctus 10 a 4 alla Decima
4:44
Emerson String Quartet
XI.
Contrapunctus 11 a 4
1:54
Emerson String Quartet
XII.
Contrapunctus 12 a 4
2:06
Emerson String Quartet
XIII.
Contrapunctus 13 a 3
5:19
Emerson String Quartet
XIV.
Contrapunctus 14 Fuga a 3 Soggetti (incomplete)
4:03
Emerson String Quartet
XV.
Canon alla Ottava
3:42
Emerson String Quartet
XVI.
Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza
4:13
Emerson String Quartet
XVII.
Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta
8:07
Emerson String Quartet
XVIII.
Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu
72:47
Herbert Tachezi (organ)
75:24
Koopman, Mathot
3:40
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
I.
Contrapunctus 1
3:51
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
II.
Contrapunctus 2
3:33
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
III.
Contrapunctus 3
6:00
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
IV.
Contrapunctus 4
4:07
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
V.
Contrapunctus 5
5:27
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
VI.
Contrapunctus 6 a 4 in Stile Francese
5:33
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
VII.
Contrapunctus 7 a 4 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem
7:57
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
VIII.
Contrapunctus 8 a 3
3:05
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
IX.
Contrapunctus 9 a 4 alla Duodecima
5:37
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
X.
Contrapunctus 10 a 4 alla Decima
8:04
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XI.
Contrapunctus 11 a 4
4:16
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XII.
Contrapunctus 12 a 4
4:58
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XIII.
Contrapunctus 13 a 3
8:47
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XIV.
Contrapunctus 14 Fuga a 3 Soggetti (incomplete)
2:53
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XV.
Canon alla Ottava
5:57
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XVI.
Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza
3:03
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XVII.
Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta
5:36
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall
XVIII.
Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu
Related Composers
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glossary
- alla [I], all', à la [F]—to the, in the manner of
- augmentation, augmentationem [G]—transformation of a subject (theme) by making the note values longer
- canon, kanon [G]—a strict form of polyphonic, contrapuntal imitation where a series of staggered parts share the same melodic material separated by time and possibly an interval creating both linear and horizontal counterpoint; a simple form of canon is a round (e.g. "Row, Row, Row your Boat")
- chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
- contrary motion, contrario motu [L], Motum contrarium—typically implies retrograde motion, e.g. moving "backward" through a subject or theme
- counterpoint, contrapuntal, contrapunctus [L], contrapuncti [pl], contrapunto [I]—A movement in a contrapuntal style, esp./specifically a fugue or canon and/or a general musical aspect. A complex notion and a deep subject, counterpoint generally refers to a musical texture comprising multiple, independent polyphonic melody lines (e.g. parts/voices/instruments) each moving horizontally, and the phenomenon of "point against point" combination into an ever-changing vertical blend. Contrapuntal music is conceived (and best heard) as a fabric of independent threads rather than a series of unified blocks such as "simple" melody and accompaniment or a series of harmonies. Chamber music, almost by definition, tends to be inherently contrapuntal and, in its best examples, supremely contrapuntal, among of its chief distinguishing traits.
- Decima [L]—10th; the interval of a 10th
- diminution, diminutionem [G]—transformation of a subject (theme) by making the note values shorter
- Duodecima [L]—12th; the interval of a 12th
- fugue, fuga, fuge [G], fuguette, fugen [G,pl]—a contrapuntal procedure (form) involving a musical subject (theme) that is successively imitated by multiple overlapping voices. There is a vast canon of rules (concepts) for creating elaborate and diverse fugues with an infinite variety of character based on fairly specific parameters. Fugues (or partial fugato) are found throughout classical music from the late Renaissance to the present.
- inversion, Inversus [L]—to turn upside down as in an interval, subject or theme
- Kunst [G]—Art
- Ottava [L]—octave or the interval of an 8th
- Quinta [L]—5th; the interval of a 5th
- soggetto, soggetti (pl)—a musical subject or theme; typically used for contrapuntal writing such as a fugue and may well imply a relatively short subject.
- stil, stile—style, manner
- terza [L], terzo [I]—3rd; the interval of a 3rd; third in a series