Description
In this G major fugue the voices imitate a single subject one after another, and the two hands carry almost the same number of notes, showing the basic shape of a fugue on a small scale. Handel wrote many keyboard fugues, and this is a concise example. It stands in the middle of the Aylesford Pieces, the published selection from manuscripts preserved by the Aylesford family.
It is in 4/4, lasts under a minute and has about 200 notes, fewer than four per second, a calm density. The even balance between the hands shows that this is not melody and accompaniment but equal voices passing the subject between them. The subject also appears in the lower voice, so the left hand has melodic work to do too.
It is rated intermediate. There are few notes, but you need to hear several voices at once. Use the hand colours to follow which hand carries the subject, loop each entry with the A-B loop, and practise bringing each entry out slightly. The range, D2 to G5, fits on a 61-key keyboard.
A collection of keyboard suites by Handel built mainly around dance movements such as allemandes and gavottes, with lively ornamented melodies and Baroque contrapuntal writing. It suits intermediate-to-advanced players who want to explore Baroque stylistic performance.
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Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
George Frideric Handel was a Baroque composer born in Halle, Germany, who later became a naturalized British citizen. Celebrated for the oratorio Messiah and his Italian-style operas, he also composed many keyboard suites and sonatas. Often mentioned alongside his contemporary Bach, his music is marked by accessible melody and stately grandeur. This site includes suite movements, minuets, and pieces from the Aylesford Pieces.
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