Dec 10, 2011
Bach, J.S.: Well-Tempered Clavier II Fugue IV in C-sharp Minor, BWV 873
This technically hairy fugue from book two might on first hearing sound like Bach being a showoff. It’s a triple-meter dance at a nice clip, with a three voice subject, which Bach inverts a few times and truncates all over the place. Naturally there’s also a strong countersubject, this one deeply chromatic with long, slow note values. It’s a lament, looming in the background while the oblivious subjects dance. In effect, Gather ye rosebuds...