Bach, Fugue in C-sharp minor (BWV 849, Phantasm Viol Consort) ©

J. S. Bach's 5-voice fugue in C-sharp minor, from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier (BWV 849), performed by the Phantasm Viol Consort, with an animated graphical score.
FAQ
Q: What can you tell me about the symbolism of this piece?
A: Very little, I'm sorry to say. The main subject has a form which has long been considered as representing a cross (in this piece and others, by lots of people), but the connection of the two countersubjects to a crown of thorns and nails being hammered is, as far as I know, just modern speculation and not something we know Bach had in mind. I learned about it when KZbin viewer Apurion mentioned it in response to the first version of the video ...
• Bach, Fugue in C-sharp...
... and since it seemed both plausible and apt, I made a second version incorporating it ...
• Bach, Crucifix, Crown ...
... and a third version with the main subject highlighted a little more ...
• Bach, Fugue in C-sharp...
If you know of any documentation of this, please let me know.
Q: Where can I hear more Bach performed by this ensemble?
A: Here:
www.phantasm-c...
www.phantasm-c...
www.phantasm-c...
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A: There are several ways:
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Q: Could you please do a video of _______?
A: Please see this:
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[@kasparisdead]

I like this idea of the different planes of perspective, with the more monumental voices sitting in the background and moving as if though from a distance.

[@migueldeulofeu6653]

Such beauty.

[@p07a]

Thank you for this wonderful gift to start our Saturdays. ❤

[@frenchimp]

Amazing visualisation! I never realized how omnipresent the 1st theme is, it's a revelation!

[@magua-zf4md]

Dear Smalin once more you make complexity shining in simplicity! I would definitely use this video as a didactic media in normal schools (not necessarily music schools), to bring in boys and girls to the beauty of Bach's music. The visuals of the theme and subjects would definitely save hundreds of 'technical' words and let young listeners go directly to the point of refining their "selective hearing". Such a great work! As always indeed.

[@smalin]

My animated graphical scores are being used by some teachers. I wonder how to let more teachers know about them.

[@thekantor1964]

Yet another amazing animation of one of Bach's most striking fugues. Thank you Stephen!

[@p07a]

I remember your other versions of this fugue. This one is the most pretty in terms of colors I’ve seen so far. Is this the first time you do this color scheme? (It seems more pastel) Anyways, wow, this fugue always amazes me with his 3-theme/5-voice management, so tight.

[@smalin]

I've used a palette similar to this (spectrum, violet through red) many times, but this is may be the first time I picked five hues (contrapuntal music is more often 3- or 4-voice).

[@Ivan_1791]

Utterly beautiful animation. Bravo!

[@hojinkim717]

Great visualization! I'm a big fan of you.

[@pwnayr]

thank you

[@snogger6]

Amazing... samlin, your work is amazing :)

[@smalin]

Glad you like it. Here's a guide to it: www.musanim.com/KZbinHighlights/

[@aniruddhvasishta8334]

Amazing stuff

[@aronasmundurjonasson3175]

The viol is such a beautiful instrument, it's a pity it's not used more

[@kantvishi]

Beautiful. My favourite after Richter's. But why isn't the third subject highlighted like the the other two?

[@smalin]

Each subject is highlighted in its own way.

[@kantvishi]

@@smalin yeah I get it, that's how you have always done it. But the third subject is not very distinguishable is what I meant.

[@simonsmatthew]

Not bad. But it needs to be "breath" more. It sounds a bit mechanical. Early Music Sources shows what I mean. Think of a choir singing and how there are always breaks to breathe.

[@ddogg9255]

This one came out well

[@sebastianchand8392]

this is good (some people assume the subject is 5 notes instead of 4 and tend to ignore its appearence in bar 49), but why ignoring the hidden appearence of the subject, here highlighted by the players in second halve of bar 17, at 0:43?

[@smalin]

I don't hear the subject there ... www.musanim.com/pdf/bwv849f_openScore.pdf ... which voice is it in?

[@sebastianchand8392]

@@smalin the theme is shared by the upper voices. the notes are a g# c# b, sames as second halve of bar 54, here 1:57. i mentioned because it creates a consipicuos void in the graphic score (0:43). anyway is also good so, because the theme there is hidden even in the score

[@sebastianchand8392]

@@smalin thank you for replying, and mostly thank you for your work

[@bsku0765]

Mein gotttttt

[@Apurion]

Probably one of the top 10 fugues by the master. I read somewhere it is a representation of crucifixion. First theme represent the cross, second theme represent the crown of thorns, and the person writting this didnt remembered what was the third theme for. I personnaly hear the sound of the hammer planting the nails.

[@smalin]

I'd never heard that interpretation, and it all fits together nicely. Did the writer say where the idea of its representation came from? Was it something Bach said? Or just modern speculation?

[@Apurion]

@@smalin Not from Bach, but from modern critics. Since i read it, i admit i can't tno think about how accurate it is each time a listen to bwv849. Thanks for the answer Smalin.

[@smalin]

Yes, it does fit very nicely. Usually, I'm not much of a fan of "here's what Bach meant" guesses, but this one actually does seem plausible.

[@smalin]

I've incorporated the symbolism you told me about in a revised version of the video (see the FAQ).

[@Apurion]

@@smalin Thank you for telling me. I've just watched it and you did a very good work! As a person following your work for approximatly 10 years, I hope you know how grateful many people are that you made all of this. You serve Bach very well.