Tonic Chord May 5, 2018

Analysis

Prelude

SUMMARY:

Bars 1-8: Period I. Tonic Pedal (Bars 1,2). Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the Dominant.

Bars 9-14: Period II. Modulates towards F sharp minor in Bars 9-10, and works its way back to E major at Bar 13. Ending with a Perfect Cadence in the Tonic, viewed as Dominant of A, in which the key of the next Period is about to appear.

Bars 15-24: Period III. Sub-dominant Pedal (Bars 15,16) and a Dominant Pedal (Bars 19,20). Tonic Pedal (in the Treble) (Bars 22,23).  Reproducing the opening bars in the key of the Sub-dominant, and gliding back in Bar 17 to the Original Tonic key.

Bars 23-24: Plagal Cadence.

REMARKS:

This Prelude is founded upon the figure seen in Bar 1 above.

In each of the Periods there are momentary subdivisions, in Period I at Bar 4, in II at Bar 13, and in III at Bar 18.

Bar 14 is made to perform a double duty (1) as a concluding bar of Period II, and (2) as a connecting bar to Period III, as Dominant 7th being placed upon it to lead to the key of A major.

Fugue

ANALYSIS:

ENUNCIATION SECTION:

Bars 1-2: Subject in Alto, ending on the first semiquaver (sixteenth note) of beat 3, Bar 2 [E Major].
Bars 2-3: Real Answer in Treble, entering slightly before the conclusion of Subject, with Counter-subject in Alto [B Major].
Bars 3-5: Subject in Bass. Counter-subject in Treble [E major].
Bars 5-6: Codetta.
Bars 6-8: Subject in Treble. Counter-subject in Bass [E major].
Bars 7-9: Answer in Alto. Counter-subject in Treble.
Bars 9-10: Answer in Bass. Counter-subject in Treble.

MODULATORY SECTION:

Bars 11-12: Codetta.
Bars 12-13: Subject in Treble [C sharp minor].
Bars 13-16: Episode I, modulating from G sharp minor to C sharp minor.
Bars 16-17:Subject in Alto. Counter-subject absent [C sharp minor].
Bars 17-19: Episode II, modulating from C sharp minor to E.
Bars 19-20: Subject in Bass. Counter-subject absent [E major].
Bars 20-21: Answer in Treble. Counter-subject absent [B major].
Bars 21-22: Subject in Alto. Counter-subject in Treble [E major].
Bars 22-25: Episode III, modulating from E, sequentially through A and B, back to E.

RECAPITULATORY SECTION:

Bars 25-26: Subject in Treble. Counter-subject in Alto [E major].
Bars 26-29: Coda [E major].
Bars 28-29:  Answer (fragment) in Bass, slightly altered for the conclusion.

SUMMARY:

Exposition: Bars 1-5:
Counter-exposition: Bars 6-10.
Episodes: Three.
Stretti: None.
Coda: Bars 26-29.

REMARKS:

1. This Fugue has a “real” Answer, and would be called a “real” Fugue.
2. The Counter-subject is very short, and stands against only a small portion of the Subject, and on three occasions (Bars 16, 19, 20) it is altogether omitted.
3. The Episodes are constructed from fragments taken sometimes from the Subject and sometimes from the Counter-subject.
4. In the Coda a fragment of the Answer is introduced in the Bass to conclude with.