Art of Fugue: Contrapunctus 1, J. S. Bach

J. S. Bach's The Art of the Fugue is often avoided as a listening experience by many listeners, fearing that this work--and any works with the term 'fugue' attached--will be too academic for the ears of laymen.  Bach would probably agree with me when I say that, if a fugue doesn't grab the listener as simply a piece of music, it should be considered a failure even as a fugue.

This first fugue: Contrapunctus 1, is probably one of the most approachable fugues ever written.  As with all the fugues in The Art of the Fugue, there is no indication as to what instruments are to play each line of music.  Some scholars consider that such pieces are meant to be played on the harpsichord or the organ; more modern scholars consider that a string ensemble is best suited for the job.  In this video, the parts have been assigned to--top to bottom--a flute, an English horn, a viola, and a bassoon, respectively.  (The tenor is doubled very softly by a marimba, to give it a little crunch.)


Archie