Johann Sebastian Bach
Miscellaneous Fugues

About Johann Sebastian Bach's Miscellaneous Fugues

The fugue could perhaps be considered the pinnacle of counterpoint (the art of writing multiple independent melodies that seamlessly fit together). Bach was undoubtedly the master of the fugue, writing hundreds of them during his lifetime, often showcasing marvelous complexity and skill. Though his fugues typically featured as movements or parts of larger works, a few standalone fugues exist, which are collected here.

The most important work in this collection is without doubt The Art of Fugue BWV 1080, which represents the culmination of Bach’s knowledge of counterpoint techniques and was left unfinished upon his death. The work features fourteen fugues and four canons in D minor based on a single subject, which each piece uses in some variation.