fugue
A contrapuntal composition where a theme is introduced and developed through imitative entries.
In Depth
A fugue begins with a single voice stating the subject — a melody that serves as the work's foundation. Other voices enter one by one, each stating the subject while the previous voices continue with countersubject material. Once all voices have entered, the fugue alternates between episodes (free development) and further subject entries in different keys.
J.S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, containing 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys, is the definitive collection. The Art of Fugue, his final major work, explores the form's possibilities with extraordinary depth. Despite its technical reputation, a well-written fugue can be deeply expressive — Bach's fugues range from joyful to profoundly contemplative.
Bach's final work, The Art of Fugue, breaks off mid-sentence. He died while writing the last fugue, and the manuscript ends abruptly — one of the most poignant moments in all of music.