Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 "The Great"

Johann Sebastian Bach

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General Info

Year: c. 1720 / 1985
Duration: c. 13:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Organ
Publisher: LudwigMasters Publications
Cost: Score and Parts - $85.00 | Score Only - $12.00

Movements

1. Fantasia – 6:35
2. Fugue – 5:05

Instrumentation

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

One of the many great masterpieces by J.S. Bach, these transcribed organ works (known as "The Great" Fugue) are wonderful pieces to hear and play. Carefully edited for the colors available in wind bands, the works (most likely independently composed) offer lush chorales, hints of chromaticism, and, of course, the exciting dovetailing of many voices as the classic fugue unwinds until, finally, it concludes in a welcome cadence.

- Program Note from publisher

The Great Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542, is an organ prelude and fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach. It acquired that name to distinguish it from the earlier Little Fugue in G minor, which is shorter. This piece is not to be confused with the Prelude and Fugue in A minor, which is also for organ and also sometimes called "the Great".

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

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State Ratings

Florida: VI
Louisiana: V
Michigan Senior High AA
Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Paul, conductor) – 8 October 2017
McGill University (Montreal, Que.) Wind Symphony (Alain Cazes, conductor) – 25 January 2017
Buchholz High School (Gainesville, Fla.) Wind Symphony (Alexander Kaminsky, conductor) – 6 March 2014 (ABA 2014 Annual Convention (Montgomery, Alabama))
Troy University Symphonic Band (Joseph W. Hermann, conductor) – 1 February 2013

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)

All Wind Works

5 Preludes and Fugues (arr. Beyrent)
Adagio (arr. Hautvast)
Adagio (arr. Warner)
Air (arr. Hautvast)
Air (arr. Klemke) (c. 1730/2006)
Air (tr. Lang) (c. 1730/1958)
Air for Woodwind Choir (arr. Blahnik)
Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3 (arr. Daehn) (1721/1980)
Arioso (arr. De Haan) (1729/2000)
Arioso (arr. Hill) (1729/1984)
Arioso (arr. Reed) (1729/1998)
The Art of Fugue (tr. Amis) (c. 1745)
Ave Maria
Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) (arr. Lovrien) (1853/2004)
Bach: Air (arr. McGinty) (c. 1730/)
The Bach Buch (tr. Pann) (2011)
Bach Chorale and March (arr. Wilson) (c. 1730/1990)
Bach: Chorale and Variation (arr. McGinty) (1994)
Bach Fugue (arr. Kinyon) (/1984)
The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Brand). See: Fugue à la Gigue
Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Mitchell) (1921/2005)
Before Thy Throne I Now Appear (arr. Bukvich) (1750/1993)
Berceuse (arr. Hautvast) (/1994)
Bourrée (arr. Isaac) (1720/1969)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (arr. Marlatt) (1721/2011)
Brandenburg Concerto No 3. See also: Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3
Canzona (orch. Stock)
Chaconne (arr. Ito) (1720/1987)
Chaconne and Festive Aria (arr. Daehn)
Chaconne in D Minor (arr. Daehn) (1720/)
Chaconne in D Minor (tr. Whitwell) (1720/2015)
Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
Chorale and Fugue (arr. Warner)
Chorale and Fugue in F Major (arr. Daehn) (1988)
Chorale Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (tr. Damrosch; adapt. O'Toole)
Chorale in C Minor (arr. Topolewski) (2012)
Christ He Is My Life (arr. Cailliet) (1973)
Christmas Pastorale (arr. Hastings) (1970)
Ciaccona (arr. Votta) (1720/2021)
Come, Blessed Peace (arr. Tolmage) (1736/1958)
Come, Sweet Death (arr. Reed) (1736/1976)
Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Flute and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Flute, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
Concerto for Prince Johann (arr. Daehn) (c. 1713 / 2011)
Contrapunctus I (arr. Barnes) (c. 1745/1988)
Contrapunctus I (arr. King) (c. 1745/1960)
Contrapunctus III (arr. King) (c. 1745/1955)
Contrapunctus IX (arr. Clark) (c. 1745/2005)
Contrapunctus V (arr. Daehn) (c. 1745)
Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness (arr. Reed) (1990)
Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; tr. Topolewski) (1727?)
Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; arr. Nowlin) (1727?/2016)
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 (arr. Hunsberger) (1727?/1997)
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (arr. Horovitz) (c. 1838/1986)
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 "The Great" (arr. Boyd) (c. 1838/1985)
Fantasia in C (arr. Sterk) (1706/2017)
Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Boyd) (1703-7/1957/1985)
Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Goldman) (1703-7/1957/2012)
Fervent is My Longing; Fugue in G Minor (tr. Cailliet) (c. 1710/1935/2006)
Forget Me Not, O Dearest Lord (arr. Reed) (c. 1736/1985)
French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Brand) (1921/2008)
Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Mitchell). See: Bach's Fugue à la Gigue
Fugue à la Gigue (arr. Rondeau) (1921/2011)
Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
Fugue in B-flat Major (arr. Daehn) (1722/1988)
Fugue in E-flat Major (tr. Abrams and Jones) (1739/2019)
Fugue in G Minor (arr. Kimura) (1703-1707/1993)
Fugue in G Minor (arr. Rechtman) (1703-1707/)
Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
God Still Lives (arr. Reed)
Goldberg Variations (arr. Colgrass)
Hertzlich tut mich verlangen. See: Fervent is My Longing; Organ Fugue in G Minor
If Thou Be Near (arr. Moehlmann) (1725/1940)
If Thou Be Near (arr. Reed) (1725/1984)
In Dulci Jubilo (arr. Reed) (1970)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Cailliet) (1723/1962)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Custer) (1723/1975/1997)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Hazo) (1723/2012)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Leidzen) (1723/1936)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Moerenhout) (1723/2019)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Pekas) (1723/)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Reed) (1723/)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sapieyevski) (1723/)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sparke) (1723/2004)
Jig Fugue (arr. Marlatt) (2003)
Komm, Susser Tod (arr. Leidzen) (1736/1936)
A Little Bach Suite (arr. Gordon) (1966)
Little Fugue (arr. Romm; adapt. Custer) (c. 1705/1974/1991)
Little Fugue in G minor (arr. Howland) (c. 1705/1974/2015)
Little Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578 (arr. Parks)
March (arr. Grainger) (1946)
My Heart, Ever Faithful (arr. Barnes) (1988)
My Heart is Filled With Longing (arr. Reed) (c. 1710/1986)
My Jesus, Oh What Anguish (arr. Reed)
My Soul Longeth to Depart in Peace
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (arr. McAlister)
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (arr. Stert) (c. 1748/2013)
O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (arr. Westover) (c. 1736/2017)
O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
Our Father Who Art in Heaven (arr. Reed) (1710/1988)
Passacaglia (arr. Glover) (c. 1703-1713?/2014)
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1703-1713?/ 1968/1975)
Passacaglia and Thema Fugatum in C Minor (tr. Stowkowski; ed. Sosnowchik) (1703-1713?/2014)
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Falcone) (ca. 1712/1969)
Passacaglia from "Cantata No. 12" (arr. Daehn) (1714/2011)
Präludium und Fuge d-Moll (tr. Rechtman) (1722/2003)
Prelude IV (arr. Reed) (1722/1983)
Prelude and Fugue No. 6, BWV 535 (arr. Anthenien) (1722/1979)
Prelude and Fugue in A-flat, BWV 557 (tr. Moehlmann) (1964)
Prelude and Fugue in Bb major (Brass Ensemble) (arr. Beyrent)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Brass Quintet) (arr. Beyrent)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major, BWV 553 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1955)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major BWV 553 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 559 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1969)
Prelude and Fugue in C major (arr. Beyrent)
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 (arr. Steinmetz) (1710/2018)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (arr. Beyrent) (1722/2001)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 555 (arr. Coleman) (1852/2017)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1988)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor (tr. Rechtman). See: Präludium und Fuge d-Moll
Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552 (setting Hunsberger) (c. 1739/2009)
Prelude and Fugue in F major (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/?)
Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 555 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1954)
Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 535 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1939)
Prelude, Chorale and Fugue (arr. Godfrey) (1919)
Prelude in E-flat, BWV 552 (arr. Tamura) (c. 1739/2001)
Prelude No. 22 (tr. Lynch) (c. 1722/2013)
"Ricercare a 6" from Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (tr. McAlister)
Saint Anne's Fugue (arr. Rhoads) (1965)
Sarabande (arr. Kennaway) (1972/1977/1995)
Second Bach Suite for Band (tr. Tolmage) (1965)
Sehet was die liebe tut (arr. Grainger) (1937)
Sheep May Safely Graze (arr. Reed) (1713/1981)
Sinfonia from "Cantata No 29" (arr. Ninmer)
Sinfonia from "Cantate 156" (arr. Daniels) (1729/)
Sixteen Chorales (ed. King) (1958)
Sixteen Chorales (arr. Lake) (1938)
Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Patterson) (1731/1995)
Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Reed) (1731)
Sleepers, Awake! (tr. Sparke) (1731/2002)
Songs of Exaltation (arr. Gordon) (1974)
St. Anne. See: Prelude and Fugue in E-flat
Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
Thus Do You Fare, My Jesus (arr. Reed)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major (arr. Rechtman) (c. 1717)
Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564 (tr. Paynter) (c. 1717/2000)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
Toccata, Aria, and Fugue in C Major (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
Toccata & Fuge d-Moll (arr. Goldhammer) (1705/2011)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Goldhammer). See: Toccata & Fuge d-Moll
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Goto) (1705/2014)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hindsley) (1705)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1705/1998)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Leidzen) (1705/1942)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Lopez) (1705/2010)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Nowlin) (1705/2015)
Violin Partita No. 3 in E major (arr. Kitakata) (1720/2018?)
Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)
Wachet auf (arr. Marlatt) (1731/)
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (arr. Lauf Jr.) (1731/2019)
Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just (arr. Croft) (1978)
Wir Glauben All’ An Einen Gott (arr. Stokowski) (1739)

Resources

Bach, J.; Boyd, J. (1985). Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542: "The Great". Ludwig Music: Cleveland.
Great Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542, Wikipedia