Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

January 5, 1826

Average_duration

:

8:08

Felix Mendelssohn's Fugue for piano in C sharp minor, also known as the Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor, was composed in 1837. It was premiered by the composer himself in Leipzig on January 24, 1838. The piece consists of two movements, a prelude and a fugue, and is approximately 10 minutes in length. The prelude is marked Adagio and begins with a melancholic melody in the right hand accompanied by a simple arpeggiated figure in the left hand. The melody is then repeated in the left hand while the right hand plays a descending chromatic scale. The prelude builds in intensity and complexity before resolving back to the original melody. The fugue is marked Allegro and begins with a subject in the right hand that is then imitated in the left hand. The subject is then developed and passed between the hands as well as between different registers of the piano. Mendelssohn uses a variety of contrapuntal techniques such as inversion, augmentation, and diminution to create a complex and intricate texture. The fugue reaches its climax with a stretto, where the subject is played in overlapping entries, before resolving back to the original key and subject. The Fugue for piano in C sharp minor is characteristic of Mendelssohn's style, which is known for its clarity, elegance, and lyricism. The piece showcases his mastery of counterpoint and his ability to create complex textures while maintaining a sense of clarity and structure. The use of chromaticism in the prelude and the intricate contrapuntal writing in the fugue demonstrate Mendelssohn's skill as a composer. The piece is a testament to Mendelssohn's ability to combine technical virtuosity with emotional depth and expressiveness.

More....