Prelude and Fugue from the Fifth Cello Suite BWV 1011

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue from the Fifth Cello Suite BWV 1011

Analysis and Score

Authors: Márta Ábrahám – Barnabás Dukay

This new publication by violinist Márta Ábrahám and composer Barnabás Dukay, based on decades of research, offers a comprehensive guide to the theoretical and practical study of J. S. Bach’s only fugue written for solo cello (BWV 1011). The clear, accessible, and well-structured analysis, together with the two included scores, significantly facilitates the interpretation, study, and performance of the Cello Fugue in C minor.

Analysis

The analysis by Márta Ábrahám and Barnabás Dukay guides the reader into the inner, previously unexplored world of the work. The introductory chapter addresses the fundamental issues of the fugue as a genre, followed by a detailed examination of the theme, form, and structure of the C-minor Cello Fugue, shedding new light on the overall formal logic of the work.

The analysis leads the reader through the fugue’s eleven theme entries and reveals their interconnections as an organic musical network. A rich selection of musical examples and tables helps the understanding of the underlying compositional logic and the relationships between the musical elements.

Score 1 – Solo Cello

The Cello Fugue in C minor belongs to the rare type of double-theme fugues, in which the theme (subject) and countersubject appear together throughout the entire work. In the Colorful BACH score, these musical elements are highlighted in different colours, allowing the thematic materials to be easily identified. The colour-coded notation reveals Bach’s fascinating contrapuntal techniques and the increasingly bold variational procedures employed throughout the fugue. Positional exchanges of the musical materials, internal transformations and extensions become transparent.

The Colorful BACH score not only greatly facilitates visual orientation, but also significantly helps the reader to follow the musical process, offering a deeper insight into Bach’s compositional mindset and his unparalelled rich musical language.

Score 2 – Two Cellos

The cello fugue lends itself particularly well to a chamber-music arrangement, as both the thematic material and the interlude sections can be clearly separated. The duo version was created primarily for pedagogical purposes, offering teachers and students the opportunity to approach the work through active chamber-music practice.

Number of pages: 33
ISMN 979-0-801686-29-9

BioBach Music Book and Music Publishing LP