Non-fugue Bach Polyphonic keyboard music?

[pbryld]

Is there such a thing, or is polyphonic and fugue pretty much synonymous.? I have to play some polyphonic Bach for an audition, and I would like to play something that is not a fugue, at least not by name, if that's possible. It's totally just for the sake of not playing something from the WTC (and his other fugues), but perhaps it will make me a bit more memorable.

[iansinclair]

Methinks that you need a music theory course...  "polyphonic" simply refers to the structure of the music having two or more lines of more or less equal weight, and applies to virtually all pre-classical (in the sense of Haydn = classical) music.  A polyphonic piece may be a fugue -- which is a very special case of polyphony -- or could be almost any other form you care to name within the Baroque or Renaissance period.

[pbryld]

Is that because all the voices are equalin nature, since it was written for the harpsichord (and virginal and whatever)?
And in a fugue the main theme just happens to pop up every now then in the different registers - it would be polyphonic even if it didn't replicate the theme over and over?

Anyway, as long as it isn't a chorale etc. I can be quite sure it's polyphonic?

[indianajo]

Polyphonic means stuff happening in the left hand too, with JSB. 
fugue means the melody is cut up in little bits and rolled around. 
Try the French stuites, the English suites, the Inventions.

[iansinclair]

Is that because all the voices are equalin nature, since it was written for the harpsichord (and virginal and whatever)?
And in a fugue the main theme just happens to pop up every now then in the different registers - it would be polyphonic even if it didn't replicate the theme over and over?

Anyway, as long as it isn't a chorale etc. I can be quite sure it's polyphonic?

There really isn't time for a theory course -- and it wouldn't fit well in a forum anyway.

First, not all polyphonic music was written for keyboards (including, besides harpsichord, a LOT of other instruments, especially organ) -- a good bit of it is vocal, and another substantial chunk is for various instruments; sometimes in families and sometimes mixed.

Second, a fugue has a very particular construction; the main theme doesn't "just pop up"; it may appear in retrograde, or inverted, or augmented or diminished... etc.  Indeed, it may be rather hard to tease the main theme out of the entire polyphonic structure.  (I note that a canon, on the other hand, does repeat the main theme over and over; think that famous thing by Pachelbel).

Third, the voices do not have to all be equal.  It is perfectly possible -- indeed not at all uncommon -- to have a piece in which one voice is carrying the main theme while a several other voices are carrying on more or less complex counterpoint around it.  Most of the Bach chorales are like that.

The Bach chorales are all polyphonic.

Please... go learn some theory.

[pbryld]

You don't have to be such an arsehole about it.

Obviously I meant the music that I was looking for was written for the harpsichord. Not that I thought all polyphonic music was written for it.

In theory classes they always use fugues as examples of polyphonic music, so that's why I was unsure whether other forms of music would be considered valid as a polyphonic work for an audition.

And when I say chorale, I mean some like this, which is most definitely homophonic. Perhaps I've used the wrong word, English is not my mother tongue.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/I_%C3%B8sten_stiger_solen_op.jpg/600px-I_%C3%B8sten_stiger_solen_op.jpg

[quantum]

This may be a question of distinguishing between texture and compositional technique.

Polyphony is a musical texture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_%28music%29

Fugue is a specific type of compositional technique that is characterized by its contrapuntal or polyphonic nature.


For non-fugue works try looking at: French Suites, English Suites, Partitas, or Toccatas.  Note there may be non-labeled fugues within the individual movements. 

[pbryld]

This may be a question of distinguishing between texture and compositional technique.

Polyphony is a musical texture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_%28music%29

Fugue is a specific type of compositional technique that is characterized by its contrapuntal or polyphonic nature.


For non-fugue works try looking at: French Suites, English Suites, Partitas, or Toccatas.  Note there may be non-labeled fugues within the individual movements. 

Thank you. I've already picked the Sarabande and Rondeau from the 2nd Partita :-)

[iansinclair]

You don't have to be such an arsehole about it.

I beg your pardon?  Your initial remarks were not clear, and I was attempting to be helpful.

[starlady]

Have you looked at the 3-part Inventions (a.k.a Sinfonias)?  SERIOUSLY polyphonic, and maybe less familiar than the Suites or the WTC.  Some are just gorgeous! --s.

[pbryld]

I beg your pardon?  Your initial remarks were not clear, and I was attempting to be helpful.

"Methinks" that you were clearly condescending.  Thanks nevertheless.

Starlady: Actually no, I will give them a look!

[j_menz]

Given your evident confusion regarding what constitutes polyphony in music, I am assuming you have no experience playing any of it (or at least playing it with an appreciation of what you are supposed to be looking for or doing).

That being the case, I seriously suggest you look at some of the Sinfonias first, otherwise called the two part inventions. Having only two voices, and being designed as teaching aids in polyphony, they make an excellent starting point, and should be technically reasonably straightforward, allowing you to concentrate on the polyphony rather than the mechanics.

[starlady]

Just to be annoyingly pedantic (pedantry on Piano Street !?! Never!!! ):  'Sinfonia' is not usually used as a name for the 2-part Inventions, only the 3-part: the 2-part Inventions are just called Inventions. 

And it doesn't matter because either one would be great for the OP.  --s.

 

[j_menz]

Just to be annoyingly pedantic (pedantry on Piano Street !?! Never!!! ):  'Sinfonia' is not usually used as a name for the 2-part Inventions, only the 3-part: the 2-part Inventions are just called Inventions. 

Perfectly correct. 

And I'm in no position to complain about pedantry (not that I think you actually were).

[pbryld]

Given your evident confusion regarding what constitutes polyphony in music, I am assuming you have no experience playing any of it (or at least playing it with an appreciation of what you are supposed to be looking for or doing).

That being the case, I seriously suggest you look at some of the Sinfonias first, otherwise called the two part inventions. Having only two voices, and being designed as teaching aids in polyphony, they make an excellent starting point, and should be technically reasonably straightforward, allowing you to concentrate on the polyphony rather than the mechanics.

I may just do that. Thanks.