🚨 John Mortensen on Improvising Fugues (!!!)

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[@MusicaAngela]

Around 14:00 you ask a good question about Bach’s bass lines. It’s hard to think of Bach as a decorator since he never wrote a note that wasn’t necessary but one thing I’ve learned which really helped me understand what Bach was thinking is to notice the accidentals because they show how he is moving the harmony to a new ‘local’ key. It’s not a true modulation in the modern sense but if you recognize these critical notes and where they take you, you can understand better how composed/improvised.

[@JeremySiskind]

Great point! Yes - it's always interesting to track Bach's notes outside of the key and how they preview any modulations! I was just playing through the second fugue in WTC1 (C minor) and noticing the crazy cross-relations. So fun!

[@SirFuguesALot]

Love this point! One of my favorite examples is the F#s in the first Invention and how they gradually go from the weakest part of the weakest beat to stronger parts, until finally a cadence in G major.

[@taylordiclemente5163]

In the 18th century, musicians didn't distinguish between tonicizations and modulations. All chromatic alterations - called musica ficta - that were functional were considered modulating agents.

[@TonyWinston]

John's video on Romanesca changed my life

[@christopherhuber9037]

Hey Tony! Happy to see you here, your channel is lovely too!

[@JeremySiskind]

He’s super inspiring, right?

[@christopherhuber9037]

John has an excellent channel, it's always nice when there's a crossover episode!

[@sanferrera]

Thak you! Here's the link for everyone else who wants to check it out. kzbin.info

[@geoffirvine4413]

Great session. I’m only an amateur keyboard player via classical. I have wondered what have Bach done with the blues and swing?? Luv the work Nahre Sol does like this. Thanks for this!!!

[@mfurman]

I came back to this KZbin episode after listening to quite a few of dr. Mortensen’s and considering his course. I have been trying to learn jazz in the last few months (I have all of Jeremy’s books) but I always considered if I want to “reprogram my brain away from classical music”. I will continue my search for the right (for me) approach to improvisation, in a week or so. I will also check Tonebase (both Jeremy Siskind and John Mortensen are there). Thank you, Michael

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

T

[@cabijista1]

This is so fascinating! I will definitely be getting John’s book when it comes out, but I don’t want to wait till January 😢

[@JeremySiskind]

Awesome! Buy buy buy John’s book! 📚 💰

[@cabijista1]

@@JeremySiskind I shall, I’ve been looking for a book on fugal improvisation for many, many years!

[@cabijista1]

@@JeremySiskind btw I was wondering if you and/or John have checked this out? It’s a jazz prelude and fugue (the fugue is in swing) by Friedrich Gulda that absolutely blew my mind when I first heard it. Anyway, I thought you both might be interested if you haven’t heard it.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGPLY2Z6qNxobaM

[@julianduncan2548]

I'd love for them to do a discussion at a conference. I'd love even more to be a fly on the wall while they talk over a beer.

[@JeremySiskind]

It's really after the third beer that we start getting into it! 😉😝

[@julianduncan2548]

@@JeremySiskind naturally!

[@caseydahl1952]

this guy is great. I love the two books he recommended on his channel about the improvising lives of the romantic pianists: 'After the golden age' and 'fantasies of improvisation'. those early piano greats had so much more in common with jazz pianists than i had thought. I have john's historical improv book on my shelf but I haven't cracked it yet. one day

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

This should have been out of my pay grade but they explained things in such logical basic terms that I was able to not have to use Google Translate. Merci beaucoup.

[@BethanyLowe8773]

Very interesting! I've studied and taught systems like species counterpoint, HC Koch's forms, Schenker, and of course chord theory, but this seems to be the hidden link between them. We had to write fugues in our first year of uni (!), but there was no guidance as to how and I fear mine were clumsier than they might have been with this knowledge. I can hear Pergolesi and Vivaldi coming out of these Partimento sequences, and now I'm wondering what happened to the girls that Vivaldi taught at the Pieta that presumably used related material?

[@jonasaras]

Equal Interval System theory is similar in that it’s a “bottom up” proposition based on root cycles, but the root cycles are NOT locked into diatonic scales, and the root leaps do not exceed an augmented 4th (because an ascending 5th is actually a descending 4th).

[@longhaulblue]

Great video. I'm intrigued. I love fugues and I'm particularly intrigued by modern fugues where traditional harmony gives way to modern. Modern music has some painfully beautiful melodies and when you hear them rendered in fugal form, it's really astounding.

[@caseydahl1952]

I'd love a middle pedal lesson from jeremy!

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thank you, Gentlemen🌹🌹🌹🌹