Fugue

:For the use of the word in psychology see fugue state

Related Topics:
Psychology - Fugue state

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In music, a fugue is a type of piece written in counterpoint for several independent musical voices. A fugue begins with its subject (a brief musical theme) stated by one of the voices playing alone. A second voice then enters and plays the subject, while the first voice continues on with a contrapuntal accompaniment. Then the remaining voices similarly enter one by one. The remainder of the fugue further develops the material using all of the voices.

Related Topics:
Music - Counterpoint

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The word fugue comes from the Latin fuga (flight) and fugere (to flee). Variants include fughetta (a small fugue) and fugato (a work or section of a work resembling a fugue but not necessarily adhering to the rules of one). The adjectival form of fugue is fugal.

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(Johann Sebastian Bach's C-minor fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier I, in 3 voices). See the music for this fugue (external link, requires a Macromedia Director plugin).

Related Topics:
Johann Sebastian Bach - Well Tempered Clavier - Macromedia Director - Plugin

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