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Music vocabulary · Genres and Styles

Fugue

Meaning in music, with examples

nounCommon term

In music, fugue means: A contrapuntal composition in which a main idea, called the subject, enters successively in different musical voices and is developed through their interaction.

In Turkish: füg

How it is used

Used in classical analysis and performance. Count independent musical lines when describing a three-voice or four-voice fugue, even on one instrument.

Example sentences

  1. In this fugue, the alto introduces the subject before the soprano answers.

    The sentence tracks the order in which the main idea enters the different voices.

  2. The pianist practised each voice of the fugue separately before combining them.

    Separate practice helps preserve the independence of lines played by one musician.

Common collocations

  • fugue subject
  • three-voice fugue
  • play a fugue
  • counterpointThe technique of combining two or more independent musical lines so they sound connected and balanced together.
  • classical musicThe tradition of Western art music, including symphonies, concertos, operas and chamber music, usually written down in detailed scores and performed by trained musicians.
  • composeTo create an original piece of music, especially instrumental or classical music, film music or music written down in notation.

More terms: Genres and Styles

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