The Art of Fugue arguably remains the ultimate challenge for the performer of Baroque keyboard polyphony. In this huge composition consisting of 14 Contrapuncti and 4 canons, Johann Sebastian Bach explored a wide range of contrapuntal, fugal and canonical techniques which can be realized with one subject.
Performing the Art of Fugue confronts the keyboard player with many questions, both theoretical and practical. This study aims to contextualize specific Baroque concepts in relation to the Art of Fugue.
The first chapter On ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Notes examines the eighteenth century German views on metre and how they guided performance. The second part of this study consists of a contextual, text-critical analysis of the first four Contrapuncti.
With this doctoral project Ewald Demeyere wants to address the many issues related to the Art of Fugue which are underexposed or untreated in the primary and secondary literature.
Promoters: Bruno Blondé (UA) & Eugeen Schreurs (KCA)
Promoted on June 30, 2009
