Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562

The Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 is a relatively short piece written for the organ by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach began the composition during his time in Weimar, and an unfinished fugue, probably by Bach, was added in his later life.^[1] The piece features a heavily appoggiatura-laden harmony.^[2]

Composition

Bach was hired in 1708 by the ruling duke of Saxe-Weimar, Wilhelm Ernst, as an organist and member of the court orchestra; he was particularly encouraged to make use of his unique talents with the organ.^[3] During his tenure at Weimar his fame as an organist grew, and many students of the organ visited him to hear him play and to learn from his technique.^[4] The composer also wrote many of his greatest organ works during the period, including the Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 and the Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566.^[5] The Fantasia and Fugue in C minor was begun during this period, as a lone fantasia in the title key. The fugue was added in 1745, most likely by Bach, but possibly by one of his students or sons. This piece is one of a few by Bach with a considerable period between the composition of its component sections.^[1]

Analysis

The whole piece lasts about six minutes,^[2] and comprises an 81-bar fantasia and an unfinished fugue, of which 27 bars are written. The fantasia has a very imposing structure and sound, the feel of which is created by the piece's one-measure generative theme. This theme passes between five contrapuntal voices of the organ, with occasional movement into new ideas; even the pedal bass is used for the theme. An interesting feature to the theme is that it contains many appoggiaturas, which provide the piece with a slight virtuosic feel; the harmonies especially contain many such devices. The fugue is written in 6/4 time and uses a simple half–quarter rhythm. It ends abruptly in the middle of the 27th bar after the exposition of the five voices is completed and a stretto passage begins.^[1]

References

1 2 3 Classical Archives
1 2 Decca Records Publication No. 443 485-2
↑ jsbach.org jsbach.org
↑ Baroque music.org
↑ Classical Archives 2

External links

Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Free download of BWV 562 recorded by James Kibbie on the 1724-30 Trost organ in the Stadtkirche, Waltershausen, Germany

Compositions for Organ, Keyboard and Lute by Johann Sebastian Bach

Organ	Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful) Sonatas, BWV 525–530 Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548 Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful) Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769 Neumeister chorales, BWV 1090–1120 Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 1128

Keyboard	Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue English Suites French Suites Goldberg Variations (discography, Gould recording) Inventions and Sinfonias Italian Concerto Overture in the French style Partitas for Keyboard (No. 4, No. 6) Prelude in E minor, BWV 855a Six Little Preludes The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 (Preludes and Fugues in Book I: C major, BWV 846, C♯ minor, BWV 849, G minor, BWV 861; in Book II: C major, BWV 870, F minor, BWV 881)

Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 (Bourrée) Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000

Mixed collections	Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552 / Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689 / Duets, BWV 802–805 Concerto arrangements for solo keyboard, BWV 592–597 and 972–987 Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Twelve Little Preludes

List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach

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