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Fugue à la Gigue (arr Brand)

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Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (trans. Gustav Holst; ed. Michael Brand)


This work bears the designation BWV 577.


General Info

Year: 1707 / 1928 / 2008
Duration: c. 3:05
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: G & M Brand
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $85.00


Instrumentation

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


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


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Concord (Mass.) Band (James O'Dell, conductor) – 10 June 2017


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources