Large scale pieces containing a fugue

[ewalker1]

Hi all,

I'm looking to do a themed recital, in which all pieces contain a fugue.
I'm interested to hear about sonatas containing a fugue, or variations with a fugue - or any kind of piece really!
Something about 20-30 mins in length.
I've got some ideas already, but don't hold back your suggestions!

Thanks

[abel2]

Hi all,

I'm looking to do a themed recital, in which all pieces contain a fugue.
I'm interested to hear about sonatas containing a fugue, or variations with a fugue - or any kind of piece really!
Something about 20-30 mins in length.
I've got some ideas already, but don't hold back your suggestions!

Thanks

Beethoven's Hammerklavier has a famous fugue. The Liszt Totantanz has a fuga section, but that's only about 17 minutes long. Godowsky's epic Passacaglia culminates in a fugue, and is >20 minutes, however it's absurdly difficult. Alkan's Quasi-Faust also contains a fugue, I believe.

[visitor]

will ping this as able, but immediately David Diamond's super cool piano sonata No 1 came to mind  before i finished reading the post. the work is dedicated to Rosalyn Turek (first lady of Bach and one the greatest interpreters of his music of all time). The first movement is a massive Andante, molto espressivo (tempo primo) - Allegro, molto appassionato (tempo secundo) - Fuga - C, almost 16 minutes long.
3rd movement is a double fugue w coda
   
III. Allegramente - Fuga (Double) - Coda

that one's about 8 minutes long.

freagin awesome work, should be performed/programmed more, ...more David Diamond in general but this piece in particular (if you want to get a jiggy taste of his skills, listen to his 2nd symphony, wow, probably the greatest american 20th century symphony )
 

[brogers70]

Beethoven's Late Piano Sonatas in Ab and E major also contain fugues, and might be less daunting than the Hammerklavier.

[mjames]

MAH *** SCHUBERT IN THE HOUUUUUUSE!!!

[/youtube]

If you want to perform with a hot female pianist play this:

Medtner:

mostly "quasi-fugue" but still fun.

[worov]

Barber :

[chopinawesome]

Bach Toccatas  
I like BWV 911 the best followed by a close  BWV 914. BWV 911 has two fugues. BWV 914 has one.
However, the Toccatas are only 10-15 minutes each.
You can also do Beethoven's Variations and a Fugue Op.35. There are 15 variations. This piece is about 18-20 minutes long.

[georgey]

Here are 4 of my favorites not mentioned yet:
Beethoven Diabelli variations (couple fugues)  Edit:  too long?
Franck prelude chorale and fugue  Edit:  Intense!
Brahms variations and fugue on theme by handel  Edit: Long a favorite of Brahms himself
Bach chromatic fantasia and fugue  Edit:  Too short?

[quantum]

[thalbergmad]

I generally do not care for Reger, but his Telemann variations blow me away.

Played by Bolet of course. Hamelin is at his boring worst with this piece.

Thal

[klavieronin]

Czerny - Piano Sonata No.1 In A♭Major, Op. 7 (final movement is a fugue)
Godowsky - Passacaglia
Ravel - Le Tombeau De Couperin

[ahinton]

If it has to be within half an hour, then the second or third sonatas of Szymanowski (his first also ends with a fugue but it's really not very good at all).

Best,

Alistair

[chopinlover01]

My recommendation; the third movement of Beethoven's Op. 110. That fugue is horrifying complex, though, so best of luck to you.
Also, yes, mjames is right. Schubert has a lot of great fugues.
If only this were chamber music, I'd recommend the last movement of the Schumann Quintet (although you have to hear the first movement as well to really get the context).

[ewalker1]

Great suggestions everyone!
I'm on the verge of scrapping the idea and going for a more varied programme, which will probably contain some fugues anyway.

Programme perhaps being:
A short piece (5 mins) by Beethoven or Schubert
Franck: Prelude choral and fugue
Prokofiev: Sonata no 7

Or

Bach: BWV 911
Franck: Prelude choral and fugue
Prokofiev: Sonata no 3 / Scriabin: Sonata no 5

will ping this as able, but immediately David Diamond's super cool piano sonata No 1 came to mind  before i finished reading the post. the work is dedicated to Rosalyn Turek (first lady of Bach and one the greatest interpreters of his music of all time). The first movement is a massive Andante, molto espressivo (tempo primo) - Allegro, molto appassionato (tempo secundo) - Fuga - C, almost 16 minutes long.
3rd movement is a double fugue w coda

Interesting, I don't know this at all. Are there any available recordings?

Bach Toccatas  
I like BWV 911 the best followed by a close  BWV 914. BWV 911 has two fugues. BWV 914 has one.
However, the Toccatas are only 10-15 minutes each.
You can also do Beethoven's Variations and a Fugue Op.35. There are 15 variations. This piece is about 18-20 minutes long.

   
III. Allegramente - Fuga (Double) - Coda

that one's about 8 minutes long.

freagin awesome work, should be performed/programmed more, ...more David Diamond in general but this piece in particular (if you want to get a jiggy taste of his skills, listen to his 2nd symphony, wow, probably the greatest american 20th century symphony )
 
[/quote]

mmmmm Bach toccatas are the best!

That piece is insane  

I generally do not care for Reger, but his Telemann variations blow me away.

Played by Bolet of course. Hamelin is at his boring worst with this piece.

Thal

I've had this piece on the cards before, but decided against it for some reason or another

[visitor]

@op
yes a recording can be found in the Rosalym Tureck Collection vol III, she gave the world premiere recording of it in 1948...

[georgey]

Programme perhaps being:
A short piece (5 mins) by Beethoven or Schubert
Franck: Prelude choral and fugue
Prokofiev: Sonata no 7

Or

Bach: BWV 911
Franck: Prelude choral and fugue
Prokofiev: Sonata no 3 / Scriabin: Sonata no 5

Fantastic!  This Franck work is perhaps one of the greatest in the 19th century piano literature.

[outin]

Fantastic!  This Franck work is perhaps one of the greatest in the 19th century piano literature.

True!
But if one wants something easier, then there's this (originally for organ, but there are several transcriptions available):

[georgey]

True!
But if one wants something easier, then there's this (originally for organ, but there are several transcriptions available):

Also very true! The Op. 18 is a beautiful work written for organ maybe 20 years before the Prelude, Chorale and Fugue.  This Op 18 was part of his "6 pieces" for organ published in 1868 and admired by Liszt.

In my opinion: When it comes to intensity, certain later works by Franck cannot be beat.  Prelude, Chorale and Fugue, his symphony, Piano quintet, violin sonata for example.  His use of augmented triad, diminished 7th chord, melodic descending minor 2nd, Cyclic form, etc. all add to the intensity and these are all in abundance in the Prelude, Chorale and Fugue.