Understanding Bach’s The Art of Fugue
Written in the last decade of his life, this work is one of Bach’s most incredible and complex. Watch this short video on what makes it so special!
January 5, 2024
“A fugue explores the musical potential of a simple idea…”
Created by Tiffany Valvo, DMA, Cal Performances’ Social Media and Digital Content Specialist. Music bed: Filippo Gorini, J.S. Bach Contrapunctus 11 a 4 from The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080.
The Art of the Fugue was meant to demonstrate all the possibilities of contrapuntal writing (more in this in the video!), which had occupied Bach since his youth. Far more than a collection of exercises, it resembles an unfolding musical narrative. Ahead of Filippo Gorini’s performance of The Art of Fugue in January 2024, we are breaking down what makes this work so notable.
