best fugue or fugato you ever heard?

[sevencircles]

What is the best fugue or fugatopart you ever heard?

[ganymed]

I LOVE the cat's fugue by  Scarlatti  (K30)

[richard black]

Probably the fourth fugue in Busoni's 'Fantasia Contrappuntistica'.

Edit - no, on second thoughts, the fugue in the Hammerklavier is the one!

[dnephi]

I really like the E minor Prelude and Fugue, BWV 548.  "Wedge"

[retrouvailles]

The fugue in the cadenza of Eugen d'Albert's 1st Piano Concerto is one of my favorites.

[Etude]

I don't know about the best but these are some of the ones I like:

• The Fugato at the start of the third 'movement' of the Liszt Bm Sonata.
• The last movement of Barber's Piano Sonata
• The fugal section about 25 minutes from the end of the first movement of Sorabji's fourth Piano Symphony.  The subject is surprisingly catchy
• Fuga a due Soggetti from the same composers most famous piece... (especially when played by JP)

[goldentone]

For me it is Beethoven's opus 110, third movement.

[retrouvailles]

Oh yeah, I can't forget the fugue in the 2nd movement of Szymanowski's 2nd piano sonata. It is one of the most earth-shattering things I've heard when executed properly, such as by Hamelin. I second the Barber fugue.

[cygnusdei]

Not fair to compare the two! Fugue is a standalone, fully formed composition. Fugato should be short and sweet and effective. I nominate the fugato in the finale of Brahms Piano Concerto no. 1.

[dnephi]

Oh yeah, I can't forget the fugue in the 2nd movement of Szymanowski's 2nd piano sonata. It is one of the most earth-shattering things I've heard when executed properly, such as by Hamelin. I second the Barber fugue.

Let's mention the absolutely insane Reger Fugue on the theme of Bach, from Op. 81,

[ahinton]

Oh yeah, I can't forget the fugue in the 2nd movement of Szymanowski's 2nd piano sonata. It is one of the most earth-shattering things I've heard when executed properly, such as by Hamelin. I second the Barber fugue.

The Szymanowski one is quite a beast to bring off really well, too. The fugue that ends his Third Sonata is also pretty impressive. The one that ends his First Sonata is - er - well - less so (but then so is the entire sonata, by quite an embarrassing distance).

Although it's not quite on topic, your mention of Szymanowski in this fugal context reminds me of the "best" fugato I've ever written in terms of sheer self-inflicted creative frustration and chagrin. About 16 years ago, I was commissioned to write a piece in the form of a kind of tribute to Szymanowski, for 18 wind instruments (triple woodwind, four horns, trumpet and contrabass trombone, as it happens), for a Polish orchestra that at the time had an English conductor. I relished this prospect, especially since Szymanowski's work has always meant so much to me. It was to be in ten movements played without a break and I'd gotten only as far as working on the second of these when some major dispute occurred (of the details of which I know nothing) that resulted in the conductor's immediate dismissal and the cancellation of my commission. I duly abandoned work on the piece but was persuaded, a few years later, to return to it without a commission and complete it, which I decided to do (the entire piece would play for about 35 minutes). The fugato that I mentioned - a full-blown fugal exposition, really - opens its penultimate movement. It's a triple fugue whose subjects are all constructed from broken fragments of the fugues that end all three of Szymanowski's piano sonatas, but instead of these three fugal expositions following one another as is customary in a triple fugue, they run simultaneously; each fugue is in three voices, so there are nine entries - voice 1 has fugue subject 1, voice 2 has fugue subject 2, voice 3 has fugue subject 3, voice 4 has fugue subject 1 and so on until the fugal exposition amasses a nine-voice counterpoint. Getting that to work cost me so dear that I resolved never to write a fugue again - a resolution that I've yet to break...

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

The fugue in Szymanowsky's 3rd piano sonata is just amazing, beyond words.

Of fugatos I really like the one in Alkan's Super flumina Babylonis.

And let us not forget Marc-André Hamelin's own prelude and Fugue. The fugue is pretty much just incredibly insane

[klavierkonzerte]

not the best i'v ever heared but the fugue in the 3rd movment of litolff fouth concerto is very catchy.

[retrouvailles]

not the best i'v ever heared but the fugue in the 3rd movment of litolff fouth concerto is very catchy.

Completely agreed. I really like it as well.

[thierry13]

Barber sonata mvt 4 is an AMAZING fugue. The fugue from Hammerklavier is insane too.

[indutrial]

There are numerous awesome fugues scattered throughout Niels Viggo Bentzon's Tempered Piano collection, which consists of 13 books of 24 prelude/fugue combos (312 total fugues). Of course, not all of them are great, and some of the "fugue" movements don't resemble fugues at all. The best ones are really good though. I wish a good pianist would record some more of these.

Other nice fugues I recently encountered are the second movement in Grazyna Bacewicz's 5th string quartet (a scherzo fugue that uses four voices and switches between arco and pizz. a few times to great effect) and the orchestral fugue movement included in Alexandre Tansman's oratorio Isaiah the Prophet. That one hasn't been recorded on CD yet (come on, NAXOS!!!), but I've studied the fugue in the two-piano vocal score for that piece. Combined with the monstrous harmonies Tansman uses (Isaiah is loaded with his so-called 'skyscraper chords' and the dense polyphonism and modalism that suggests), his deft approach to fugal arrangement makes this interlude stand out big time. He considered this multi-movement choral work one of his best works, and I was so happy when I noticed that there was an instrumental fugue thrown in for good measure!

I'm not really sure what the best fugue I've ever heard would be. I like a lot of them and it's really hard (and pointless) to weigh them all out. I love Bach's fugues, I love modern fugues. There's too many good ones to choose just one. The ones above are definitely some recent favorites.

[retrouvailles]

Some of the Kapustin fugues, whether from his set of 24 preludes and fugues or not, are very good, and sometimes very catchy. Not exactly earth-shattering like the Szymanowski, but good.

[point of grace]

the 4th mov. in the beethoven's sonata Hammerklavier.. omg

[indutrial]

Some of the Kapustin fugues, whether from his set of 24 preludes and fugues or not, are very good, and sometimes very catchy. Not exactly earth-shattering like the Szymanowski, but good.

Yeah, I forgot about Kapustin. All the more reason for this to be hard category to judge. One most also take into consideration Shostakovich's 24 preludes/fugues, Henry Martin's 24 preludes/fugues, and Walter Hus's similar set (portions of which are for two pianos or 4H piano).

[pies]

impossible for me to pick one piece but the first thing that came to mind was Fantasia Contrappuntistica.

[michel dvorsky]

I like the fact that Bach hasn't even been mentioned.  Guy couldn't write a fugue to save his life!

[mephisto]

I like the fact that Bach hasn't even been mentioned.  Guy couldn't write a fugue to save his life!

Despite the fact that you are the most intelligent person alive, I would suggest that you read this topic once more, because Bach has actually already been mentioned.

On topic: The 4th Fugue of Bach's Art of the Fugue is a true masterpiece.

[ahinton]

Despite the fact that you are the most intelligent person alive, I would suggest that you read this topic once more, because Bach has actually already been mentioned.

On topic: The 4th Fugue of Bach's Art of the Fugue is a true masterpiece.

As are so many others of his fugues; indeed, someone I know recently countered a remark by someone else who claimed to have failed to be moved by Bach that such a statement is equivalent to a fish saying that he/she hates water - and if our Kleine MoDvorsky (with due apologies to Schönberg) genuinely believes other than that Bach - the flowing waters of the brook that he was by name - was anything other than a constantly refreshing fountain at which Sorabji drank avidly, he is even more absurd than he has so far seemed to be...

Best,

Alistair

[elevateme_returns]

WTC 1 - no 24 in B min

WTC 2 - no 5 in D

[michel dvorsky]

On topic: The 4th Fugue of Bach's Art of the Fugue is a true masterpiece.

One of my favorites too, actually.

[ahinton]

One of my favorites too, actually.

Have you written any yourself? Your general opinionatedness on the subject might suggest that you have...

Best,

Alistair

[michel dvorsky]

Have you written any yourself? Your general opinionatedness on the subject might suggest that you have...

Best,

Alistair

I know craft when I see it.

Bach is more harmonically adventurous than Sorabji.  In terms of counterpoint...I doubt Sorabji could have written even a decent two-part invention.

[retrouvailles]

Leave forever, Jake.

[cygnusdei]

There are no fugues in BWV 1080.

[ahinton]

I know craft when I see it.

From which we must naturally deduce your "real answer" (well, we are talking fugues here!) to be that you've never written one. Fine.

Bach is more harmonically adventurous than Sorabji.

Bach's unquestionable inventiveness is differnt from Sorabji's (and I don;t think I've ever made so obvious a statement, but it seems that it needs making on this occasion).

In terms of counterpoint...I doubt Sorabji could have written even a decent two-part invention.

Coming from someone who's evidently never written a fugue, your doubts are of very doubtful value...

Best,

Alistair

[Etude]

Decent as in sounding exactly like Bach?

[dnephi]

I think that Sorabji is a matter of taste, and it simply isn't mine.  It seems that a number of you are completely devoted to him, and I will let you like him.  However, I don't care for his music in the slightest.

[Etude]

I think that Sorabji is a matter of taste, and it simply isn't mine.  It seems that a number of you are completely devoted to him, and I will let you like him.  However, I don't care for his music in the slightest.

Thanks, I'm glad at least someone can be respectful about it.

[ahinton]

Thanks, I'm glad at least someone can be respectful about it.

I suspect that plenty of people here can be respectful and honest about their views on it as "dnephi" just has; the problem (when it is a problem) is that those that can't and don't are the ones that make the most noise.

Best,

Alistair

[dan101]

Bach's Fantasia and Fugue in A minor is one of my favorites to perform.

[indutrial]

I suspect that plenty of people here can be respectful and honest about their views on it as "dnephi" just has; the problem (when it is a problem) is that those that can't and don't are the ones that make the most noise.

Best,
Alistair

Thankfully, the overall plague that you're describing has appeared to settle down, but I'm guessing it's because a lot of people are on Spring Break.

[ahinton]

Thankfully, the overall plague that you're describing has appeared to settle down, but I'm guessing it's because a lot of people are on Spring Break.

...which idea imposes a whole new meaning upon Noël Coward's

I'll see you again
Whenever Spring Break's through again...

...but one can nevertheless live in hope...

Best,

Alistair

[lorguemystique]

The Gigue Fugue for organ by JSBach - will even get the most persnickety curmudgeon's feet tapping and probably dancing in very short order.

[dnreynolds]

My favorite fugue is as follows;
C (261.626 Hz), d , f, g, g, a, f,f,f,g,a,b, b, f, f#,rf#, c,c,c,c.

[dnreynolds]

Where "rf#" refers to the Quantum entity of "any viabration  in the universe."

[dnephi]

I'm not really understanding that at all.

[ahinton]

I'm not really understanding that at all.

You are not alone in that!

Best,

Alistair

[popdog]

My favourite fugue at the moment, if I had to pick, would probably be Bach's no.8 in D# minor from WTK I.  Real pearler that one. 

popdog.

[leandyn]

Not the best, but the fugue that is my favorite to play is the finale of the Brahms Handel Variations.

[dnephi]

If you can play that fugue well, you've got some serious chops.

[pmz310]

Toccata in C Minor by Bach, BWV 911

[dnephi]

Meyerbeer-Liszt-Busoni's Fugue on Ad Nos Ad Salutarem Undam is pretty spectacular.