Chasing a Fugue
Tom Service explores fugues, trying his hand at Bach's Fugue in C minor from Book 1 of The Well-Tempered Clavier and getting tips from harpsichord player Mahan Esfahani.
Tom Service looks at music in flight - the miraculous musical form that is the fugue, where melodies chase each other, work against each other and come together in a supremely logical and often exhilarating fusion. How does it work, why is it important and can we learn to love the fugue in the 21st century? Tom tries his hand at playing Bach's Fugue in C minor from Book 1 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, a challenge to many a piano exam student, gets tips on tackling fugues from virtuoso harpsichord player Mahan Esfahani, and comes across a very contemporary take on the art of learning about fugue. Lady Gaga is involved...
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Music Played
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Bach
Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 (arr. Stokowski)
Performer: Czech Philharmonic. Performer: Leopold Stokowski.- Music from Walt Disney's Fantasia.
- Decca.
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Bach
Prelude and fugue; Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, bk.1 no. 2 (BWV.847) in C minor
Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.- Bach, J S: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1.
- Decca.
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Benjamin Britten
The Young person's guide to the orchestra (Op.34) - Fugue
Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Sir Simon Rattle.- Simon Rattle on EMI Classics.
- EMI Classics.
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George Frideric Handel
Messiah - For unto us a child is born
Performer: Gabrieli Consort & Players.- Messiah.
- ARCHIV.
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Dmitry Shostakovich
Prelude and fugue for piano no. 2 (Op.87`2) in A minor, Fugue (Allegretto) [a 3]
Performer: Tatiana Nikolayeva.- 24 Preludes & Fugues Op 87.
- Hyperion.
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John Lewis
A Fugue for Music Inn
Performer: The Modern Jazz Quartet.- The Modern Jazz Quartet At Music Inn 鈥.
- Atlantic.
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Bach
Ricercar a 6 (A Musical Offering, BWV 1079) orch. Webern
Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Performer: Pierre Boulez. Performer: Pierre Boulez.- Boulez Conducts Webern.
- DG.
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Unknown
Tom singing Frere Jaques
Performer: Tom Service. -
Trad.
Children singing Three Blind Mice
Performer: Some Children. -
Bach
Mass (BWV.232) in B minor, Pt.2; Cum sancto Spiritu [chorus]
Performer: Dunedin Consort and Players. Performer: John Butt.- J.S. Bach: Mass in B minor.
- LINN.
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Johannes Brahms
Concerto for piano and orch no.1 (Op.15)..., 3rd mvt; Rondo (Allegro non troppo)
Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Performer: Emil Grigoryevich Gilels. Performer: Eugen Jochum.- Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 d-moll Op. 15.
- DG.
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Bach
Ricercar a 6 (A Musical Offering, BWV 1079)
Performer: Mahan Esfahani.- Mahan Esfahani: Byrd, Bach, Ligeti - Wigmore Hall Live.
- Wigmore Live.
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Bach
Das wohltemperierte Klavier: Praeludium II in C Minor, BWV 847
Performer: The Modern String Quartet.- Das wohltemperierte Klavier.
- Upsolute Music.
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Bach
Prelude and fugue; Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, bk.1 no. 2 (BWV.847) in C minor
Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.- Bach, J S: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1.
- Decca.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Grosse Fuge in B flat Op.133
Performer: Belcea Quartet.- Beethoven : The Complete String Quartets Vol. 2.
- Zig Zag Territories.
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Anton Bruckner
Symphony no 5 in B flat major IV : Finale
Performer: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Performer: Kurt Masur.- Eurodisc.
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Gustav Mahler
Symphony no. 5 in C sharp minor, 5th movement; Rondo-finale
Performer: LSO. Performer: Valery Gergiev.- Mahler: Symphony No. 5.
- LSO LIVE LSO0664.
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Dmitry Shostakovich
Prelude and fugue for piano no. 1 (Op.87`1) in C major [complete]
Performer: Tatiana Nikolayeva.- Shostakovich - Tatiana Nikolayeva - 24 Preludes And Fugues Op 87.
- Hyperion.
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Gentle Giant
On Reflection
- Free Hand.
- Alucard 鈥.
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Gy枚rgy Ligeti
Requiem - Kyrie
Performer: London Voices. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Performer: Jonathan Nott.- Gyorgy Ligeti: The Ligeti Project (complete).
- Warner.
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Giovanni Dettori
Lady Gaga Fugue
Performer: Vincenzo Culotta.- www.giovannidettori.com.
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Bach
Tom plays Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, bk.1 no. 2 (BWV.847) in C minor
Performer: Tom Service.
Broadcasts
- Sun 10 Jul 2016 16:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Sun 26 Nov 2017 17:00成人快手 Radio 3
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Podcast
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The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service