Extended Examples

The subject of this fugue belongs to tonal fugue, as it descends first from the tonic to the dominant; therefore, the response should go from the dominant to the tonic.

Example of the response according to the rules of tonal fugue

But this response would have rendered the working of the counter-subjects extremely difficult, and would have compelled frequent changes. It has been judged fit, therefore, to treat it as a real fugue.

This fugue, by its mode of treatment, and by the nature of the subject itself, may be considered as a fugue of imitation:–

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Mention has not been made until now of Plagal Cadence: which is frequently met with in ancient compositions.

The ancients gave the name of Authentic Cadence to that which we at present call Perfect cadence; that is to say, the progression from the dominant to the tonic.

They called Plagal cadence, that progression from the Sub-Dominant to the Tonic; and often terminate their compositions with this sort of cadence, by taking the chord of the tonic major, whatever might be the key in which their piece was. This cadence was peculiar to the plagal tones of plain chant.