Fugue - Musical Outline

Musical Outline

A fugue begins with the exposition and is written according to certain predefined rules; in later portions the composer has more freedom, though a logical key structure is usually followed. Further entries of the subject will occur throughout the fugue, repeating the accompanying material at the same time. The various entries may or may not be separated by episodes.

What follows is a chart displaying a fairly typical fugal outline, and an explanation of the processes involved in creating this structure.

Example of Key/Entry Structure, in a Three-Voice Baroque Fugue
Exposition 1st Middle-Entry 2nd Middle-Entry Final Entries in Tonic
Tonic Dom. T (D-) Relative Maj/Min Dom. of Rel. Subdom. T T
Sop. Subj. CS1 CS² A CS1 CS² S CS1 Free Counterpoint C
O
D
A
Alto Ans. CS1 CS² S CS1 CS² S CS1
Bass S CS1 CS² A CS1 CS² S

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