Description
A fugue by Mozart from the period when he was immersed in studying the works of Bach and Handel. Compared with K.154, also in G minor, it is on a larger scale, showing how seriously Mozart engaged with counterpoint in his Vienna years.
In G minor and 4/4, a depth of expression that anticipates his later works can already be seen within the strict counterpoint. As the subject passes between the voices, the stern sound of the minor key runs through the whole piece.
At about 3 minutes 45 seconds it is long for the genre, and as an advanced piece it demands the technique to make the handovers between voices clear. The structural sense to sustain tension over its length is also key to mastering it. It has 1,506 notes, and its range from C2 to G5 stays in the middle register, fitting on a 61-key keyboard. Where the voices crowd together, check the position of the subject in the score view and practise hearing the voices apart while repeating sections with the A-B loop.
Contrapuntal works influenced by Bach, where each composer's individuality shines through a strict formal structure.
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Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, and achieved fame as a child prodigy before establishing his career in Vienna. In a life of only 35 years, he produced masterpieces across symphonies, operas, chamber music, and keyboard works. His style combines clarity and formal balance with rich emotional depth. This site includes movements of the Sonatas K. 545 and K. 331, the Fantasia in D minor, K. 397, and several fugues.
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