Event list for Fugue II in F major, BWV 856, J. K. F. Fischer
Four parts occur only occassionaly in this fugue, enough to wonder if this isn't
four part fill rather than genuine four voice polyphony. Following is an analysis that
treats this as an a.3 fugue. This lends consistency to the short connecting passages as
lead in material to each middle entry and changes the proportions among the sections of the
fugue, enough so to prompt a check for a "golden mean."
Measure Event
2 - S
6 - A at 5th (only tonal entry) CS similar to end of S
10 - S, CS, cpt (end exposition)
14 - short connecting passage using first part of S
16 - ME1 S, CS in 3rds
20 - short connecting passage, uses CS in imitation
22 - ME2 S (at 5th, real), CS, cpt
26 - short connecting passage
27 - ME3 S (at 5th, real), CS in 10ths
31 - Final entry S, CS in 10ths, cpt. Bass similar to mm. 10-11,
Alto/bass same rhythm
Measure numbers indicate the first downbeat of the event.
This fugue does not modulate. The shifts to C or Bb seem more like
secondary dominant action. There is only one tonal entry. The
short connecting passages precede each middle entry. The CS is
derived from the end of S and is used in every entry. The material
in the remaining voices in each entry is variable, sometimes
paralleling the CS, sometimes free counterpoint, sometimes derived
from less vivid motives.
See Analysis as a.4 fugue
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