Bach's Fugue à la Gigue

From Wind Repertory Project
Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (trans. Gustav Holst; ed. Jon Ceander Mitchell)


This work bears the designation BWV 577.


General Info

Year: 1707 / 1928 / 2005
Duration: c. 3:05
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Cost: Score and Parts - $125.00   |   Score Only - $12.95


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo-I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II (I div. a2)
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
String Bass


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

When Holst was commissioned to write Hammersmith for the BBC Wireless Military Band in 1928 he felt rather out of practice in orchestrating for the medium. For some years he had had the idea of arranging some Bach fugues for brass and military band, so he set himself the task of scoring the Organ Fugue in G Major BWV 577 (from Preludes, Fugues and Fantasias). He, rather than Bach, called it Fugue à La Gigue.

The piece made an ideal exercise, and Holst’s brilliant dovetailing of the counterpoint between different instruments shows his mastery. The piece is technically demanding and the characteristic unison clarinet writing suggests the orchestral conception of a large wind ensemble rather than a band. It was this conception which the composer carried forward into Hammersmith.

Fugue à La Gigue was published for military band in 1928 by Boosey & Hawkes and shortly afterwards for orchestra, but with only short scores, as was customary at the time.

- Program Note from publisher


Media


State Ratings

  • Florida: VI
  • Louisiana: V
  • North Carolina: V
  • Texas: V. Complete


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Concert Band (Jason H. Nam, conductor) – 4 April 2023
  • Ohlone Symphonic Band (Fremont, Calif.) (Tony Clements, conductor) - 26 March 2023
  • Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble (Hampton, Va.) (William Garlette, conductor) - 10 December 2022
  • La Sierra University (Riverside, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (David Brennan, conductor) – 12 November 2022
  • Philadelphia (Penn.) Wind Symphony (Paul Bryan, conductor) - 17 October 2022
  • California State University Northridge Wind Ensemble (Lawrence Stoffel, conductor) - 13 October 2022
  • Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) Concert Band (Cory Near, conductor) – 7 November 2021
  • Northshore Concert Band (Wilmette, Ill.) (Mallory Thompson, conductor) - 20 June 2021
  • University of Texas at Arlington Wind Symphony (Douglas Stotter, conductor) - 9 May 2021
  • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Band (Eric Allen, conductor) - 1 April 2021
  • Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) Wind Ensemble (Joseph Higgins, conductor) - 11 March 2021
  • University of Central Arkansas (Conway) Wind Ensemble (Ricky Brooks, conductor )- 17 November 2020
  • Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Wind Ensemble (Tiffany Engle, conductor) - 13 November 2020
  • University of South Alabama (Mobile) Wind Ensemble (William Petersen, conductor) – 27 February 2020
  • Carmel (Ind.) High School Wind Symphony (Kyle Young, conductor) – 21 February 2020 (CBDNA 2020 North Central Division Conference, Chicago, Ill.)
  • University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Wind Ensemble (Carolyn Barber, conductor) – 11 December 2019
  • University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Ensemble (David M. Jacobs, conductor) – 4 December 2019
  • Baylor University (Waco, Texas) Wind Ensemble (Eric Wilson, conductor) – 25 November 2019
  • University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (Matthew McCutchen, conductor) – 17 November 2019
  • Temple University (Philadelphia, Penn.) Concert Band (Patricia Cornet, conductor) – 17 October 2019
  • The Ohio State University (Columbus) Wind Symphony (Brent Levine, conductor) – 3 October 2019
  • Callanwolde Concert Band (Decatur, Ga.) (Glenn Moore, conductor) – 29 September 2019


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Bach, J.; Holst, G.; Mitchell, J. (2005). Bach's Fugue à la Gigue [score]. Boosey & Hawkes: London.
  • Hermann, Joseph W. "Fugue á la Gigue." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 527-535. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.
  • Rudgers, Gregory B. Fugue a la Gigue. MBM Times, Issue 6 (2012), 68.