Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a

The Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a,[lower-alpha 1] is a piece of organ music attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach.[1] It is a transcription of the last movement of his cantata Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131. The cantata is definitely by Bach, while the arrangement for organ is regarded by some authorities (from Spitta onwards) as spurious.

The cantata dates from 1707 or 1708, which almost certainly provides a terminus ante quem for the organ arrangement.[2]

The key of G minor, sometimes associated with sadness, is used extensively in the cantata, which sets one of the penitential psalms. In the cantata the fugue (a permutation fugue) is sung by the choir. The score of the cantata does not feature an organ part as such, but the basso continuo (for which a figured bass is provided) may well have been played on the organ.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ "BWV" is Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, a thematic catalogue of Bach's works.

References

  1. ↑ Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Fugue in G-, BWV131a classicalarchives.com
  2. ↑ Peter Williams in The Organ Music of J. S. Bach considers the possibility that the cantata is later than the keyboard version, but concludes this is unlikely.
  3. ↑ Smith, Craig. "Cantata 131; Programme Notes". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
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