Called "little" simply because Bach wrote
another fugue in g minor which is twice as long and thrice as
complicated, this diminutive fugue is nevertheless a masterpiece of
genial fugosity. It has a tuneful theme, whistle-able episodes, is
beautifully constructed with an architecturally superlative climax, and
is just generally a pleasant piece to have around. I played it as a
teenager, then, discovering it again recently, find myself playing it
again and again. It is a great
little fugue.
Poor Antonio. He gets to be the poster child for
also-rans everywhere. And blamed for a crime he
did not commit, to boot.
We save a special scorn for the losers of the
championship games. The ones who never got there
in the first place, or who can't manage to win
as many games as they lose, we don't concern
ourselves with. But we want to make sure the
ones who challenge for the title feel our wrath,
even if we have to torch Icaraus' wings
ourselves.
I’m getting ready to post an early
sonata by Haydn. This is from the finale
of the Sonata no. 6, or no. 13,
depending on which catalog numbering
system you are using.
I know, it’s me picking on a tiny detail
again. Still, I find it fascinating, and
if that makes me a geek, so be it.
Frankly, I think it is also why we are
listening to Haydn after a couple of
hundred years.
