double fugue

music

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June 25, 2026

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A double fugue is a musical composition featuring two distinct subjects that are treated both separately and simultaneously. This is a more complex form of a fugue, which is a compositional technique characterized by the systematic imitation of a principal theme (the subject) in simultaneously sounding melodic lines. In a double fugue, these two subjects are introduced and developed, often with separate expositions before being combined. This creates intricate interweaving of melodic parts, showcasing a high level of contrapuntal skill.123

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fugue
Varieties of the fugue
In a double fugue two subjects may receive simultaneous exposition; the result is similar to a simple fugue with a countersubject, as is the case in the opening chorus of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (1727; Passio secundum Matthaeum). More often, in a double fugue the…
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In a double fugue two subjects may receive simultaneous exposition; the result is similar to a simple fugue with a countersubject, as is the case in the opening chorus of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (1727; Passio secundum Matthaeum). More often, in a double fugue the…
Read More