Talk:Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV 903

Suggestion
In the article of this piece - as in others on works by Bach - the empty upper right corner could be filled by an infobox, - at-a-glance information for a first visitor, example pictured, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:29, 4 June 2015 (UTC)


 * Was done, removed here to avoid clutter, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:43, 11 July 2015 (UTC)

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Error in translation
In the article about "Bach's Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue," the German explanation of the fugue's theme states: "Das Thema der Fuge beginnt mit einer in Halbtonschritten aufsteigenden Linie von a nach c, hier also von der Terz zur Quinte der zu d-Moll parallelen Dur-Tonart F-Dur." This interpretation suggests that the passage from A to C is seen as part of F major, which is an unusual and arguably incorrect view given the piece's harmonic content.

A more accurate description would be that the theme begins with an upward chromatic line from the fifth of D minor to the seventh, moving from A to C. The following phrase emphasizes D minor. Then the tonal answer appropriately begins DE F F# G, a sequence that takes D minor and changes it to D major, leading us towards G minor then back through A major (dominant) to D minor.

The German text assumes the a-b-h-c is interpreted as F major but that is clearly wrong, considering the tonal continuation.

I have therefore allowed myself to change the section "Fugue".

Please note that while I strive to respect the original German text, the premise that the theme begins as if in F major is difficult to substantiate within the context of the piece's overall harmonic framework.

Later in the Fugue there may be instances where the chromatic line is used in different ways, but clearly every time and especially in the reprise the beginning a b h c (Bach's initials btw) are used as A minor leading to D Major leading to G minor then the answer leads us back (E minor, A major to D minor). That is an inventive though not radical way to create a fugato. d-axel (talk) 18:06, 12 May 2024 (UTC)