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Arts & Culture

Fugue Form and Counterpoint in Bach's Works

Quick fact

Bach's The Art of Fugue contains a final unfinished fugue that incorporates his name as a musical motif—B-A-C-H—but he died before completing it, making it one of music's greatest mysteries.

Why this is interesting

You've probably heard a Bach fugue—even if you didn't know it. But what exactly is a fugue, and how does Bach's mastery of counterpoint make it one of the most powerful structures in music?