Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} The '''Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537''' is a piece for the organ written by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was composed during the composer's second period of residence in Weimar.<ref name="Classical Archives">[http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/1999.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about Classical Archives]</ref><ref name="Grove">Caldwell, J. [https://www-oxfordmusiconline-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000014945 Keyboard music: the period of JS Bach]. Grove Music Online. Retrieved 5 Feb. 2022 (subscription required)</ref> thumb|The chapel of the castle at Weimar ==Background of Composition== During his life, Bach had two tenures in Weimar, then a town with a population of only about 5000, but possessing a strong cultural tradition.<ref name="Baroque Music.org">{{Cite web |url=http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxjsbach.html#W2 |title=Baroque music.org |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220080633/http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxjsbach.html#W2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His second tenure began in 1708, when he left a post as a church organist in Mühlhausen to serve as an organist in the chapel of Weimar's ruling duke, Wilhelm Ernst.<ref name="jsbach.org">{{Cite web |url=http://www.let.rug.nl/Linguistics/diversen/bach/weimar2.html |title=jsbach.org |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=28 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328175204/http://www.let.rug.nl/Linguistics/diversen/bach/weimar2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He composed many of his organ works at Weimar, including the ''Orgelbüchlein'', concerto transcriptions, and some fugues, although in the case of Bach's fugues it is often difficult to identify when they were composed.<ref name="Grove"></ref><ref name="8notes.com">[http://www.8notes.com/biographies/bach.asp 8notes.com]</ref>

==Analysis== The combined length of the fantasia and the fugue is about eight minutes;<ref name="Decca Publication No. 443 485-2">Decca Publication No. 443 485-2</ref> the fantasia is written in 6/4 time, while the fugue is in 2/2. The fantasia of the piece is quite lush and very ornate, consisting of two unequal halves that both feature the same two basic musical ideas, an imitative dotted-rhythm tune, and a leaping eighth-note form, which is also in imitation, initiated by the pedals.<ref name="Classical Archives" /> Unlike many of its contemporaries, it features no cadenza-like passage in which performers could show off their virtuosity. The fugue uses a steady theme which repeats the same note four times in a row, and so can be easily recognised each time that it reappears. The total length of the fugue is 130 contrapuntal bars.<ref name="Allmusic.com">[{{AllMusic|class=work|id=c12026|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com]</ref>

==Influence of the work== During his period in Weimar his fame as an organist grew, and he was visited by students of the organ to hear him play and to try to learn from his technique.<ref name="Baroque Music.org" />

The piece appeared in 1867 in the first complete edition of the composer's works, the Bach-Gesellschaft-Ausgabe. The volume in question was devoted to organ music and edited by Wilhelm Rust.

===Transcription=== This piece was transcribed by Edward Elgar. He had a cordial friendship with Richard Strauss dating back to the German premiere of Elgar's ''The Dream of Gerontius'' in Düsseldorf in 1901. They met in 1920, eager to heal the rift caused by the First World War. At the meeting, Elgar proposed that they orchestrate this work by Bach. Strauss would orchestrate the Fantasia and Elgar would work on the Fugue. Elgar completed his section in the spring of 1921, but Strauss never kept his part of the agreement. Elgar proceeded to orchestrate the Fantasia as well, and the final combined orchestration was first performed in the 1922 Three Choirs Festival, being held in Gloucester; the rendition was well received.<ref name="Elgar.org">[http://www.elgar.org/3transcr.htm Elgar.org]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMSLP2|work=Fantasia_and_Fugue_in_C_minor,_BWV_537_(Bach,_Johann_Sebastian)|cname=Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071210124421/http://www.blockmrecords.org/bach/detail.php?ID=BWV0537 Free download of BWV 537] recorded by James Kibbie on the 1721 Gottfried Silbermann organ in the Georgenkirche, Rötha, Germany

Category:Fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach Category:Compositions for organ Bach Category:Compositions in C minor Category:Edward Elgar