Arts & Culture
Counterpoint and Harmony in Baroque Fugues
Quick fact
In a typical fugue by J.S. Bach, every single note simultaneously serves two masters: it participates in a melodic line and belongs to a chord that governs the larger harmonic movement.
Why this is interesting
A fugue can sound like a whirlwind of independent melodies, yet every note is locked into a precise harmonic framework. How do multiple voices move freely while still creating clear chord progressions?