Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a

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The Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a, is a piece of organ music attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach. [1] It is a transcription of the last movement of his cantata Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir , BWV 131. [2] The cantata is definitely by Bach, while the arrangement for organ is regarded by some authorities (from Spitta onwards) as spurious.[ citation needed ] The organ version likely originated after the cantata, which was composed in 1707. [lower-alpha 1] [3]

Contents

Publication

The piece was published in 1891 in the Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, the first complete edition of the composer's works. It was edited by Ernst Naumann. [4]

Relationship with the cantata

The key of G minor, sometimes associated with sadness, is used extensively in the cantata, which sets Psalm 130, one of the penitential psalms.[ citation needed ]

Scoring of the cantata

In the cantata the fugue (a permutation fugue) is sung by the choir.[ citation needed ] The score of the cantata does not feature an organ part as such.[ citation needed ][ relevant? ] However, the scoring for the instrumental ensemble includes a basso continuo part (for which a figured bass is provided), and Bach may well have intended this to be played on the organ.[ relevant? ] [5] Ton Koopman, for example, in his recording of this cantata uses organ continuo.[ citation needed ][ relevant? ]

Notes

  1. ↑ Peter Williams in The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (1980-84)[ page needed ] considers the possibility that the cantata is later than the keyboard version, but concludes this is unlikely.

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References

  1. ↑ Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Fugue in G-, BWV131a classicalarchives.com
  2. ↑ "Fugue, g BWV 131a". Bach Digital . Leipzig: Bach Archive; et al. 2018-07-07.
  3. ↑ "Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir BWV 131". Bach Digital . Leipzig: Bach Archive; et al. 2019-03-11.
  4. ↑ Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Vol. 38. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1891.
  5. ↑ Smith, Craig. "Cantata 131; Programme Notes". Emmanuel Music . Retrieved September 3, 2012.
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