Peer Review

Analysis of Bach's G Minor Fugue from Book II of the WTC (BWV 885)

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Oct 8, 2019 by Music

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Ratings

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This site offers an analysis of Bach's G Minor Fugue from Book II of the WTC (BWV 885). The site focuses it's analysis on the entrance and treatment of the subject-counter subject and answer-counter answer and the use of invertible counterpoint for this fugue. The site also provides a score and recording of the fugue for students to follow and watch the subject and answer entrances as the music unfolds.
Type of Material:: This site is an analysis and animation.
Recommended Uses:: This site would be a good introduction to analyzing fugues as well as the use of invertible counterpoint. Once familiar with identifying subject and countersubject as well as invertible counterpoint student could be asked to identify these aspects of fugue writing in other fugues or try their hand at writing invertible counterpoint.
Technical Requirements:: This site requires Flash, Javascript and HTML.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The major learning goal of this site is to understand the entrances and treatment of the subject and answer in JS Bach's G minor Fugue BWV 855 from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book II. This site identifies the subject, countersubject, answer, counter answer of this fugue, the sequence in which the subject and answer entrances are made and are altered as the fugue unfolds, the use of invertible counterpoint in this fugue. The animation at the end of this site also guides the listener through the episodes as they unfold.
Target Student Population:: The target student population for this fugue would be upper class undergraduate music theory students analyzing fugues for the first time.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic music theory, understanding of the fugue and it's musical terms is needed to understand the content of this site.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The thorough explanation of the fugue's subject, counter subject, answer, counter answer, entrances and treatment of invertible counterpoint followed by an animated score and recording of the fugue are the strengths of this site. The score of the fugue is also presented in four staves so students can easily see each voice of the fugue.
Concerns:: Individual notes do not highlight as music is played. Sound quality is based on computer sound and not an actual keyboard recording. Not all of the fugue is presented.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The potential effectiveness of this site is high. It presents the concepts with a clear text and analysis supplemented by musical and audio examples and then presents the fugue in an easy to read score with a recording and animation to show the entrances of each subject, counter subject, answer, counter answer, exposition and episode of the fugue. The learning goal of this site is focused primarily on following the use of invertible counterpoint in this fugue.
Concerns:: Would be more beneficial if music notation (all individual pitches) highlighted as it was performed on an actual instrument and not based on a computer program/sound quality. Once the recording begins, it must play out in its entirety. The music does not continue after four measures and breaks up the consistency of the piece.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: This site is easy to use and navigate. All instructions on how to use the site are clearly presented and intuitive.
Concerns:: No concerns.

Other Issues and Comments:: Once the recording begins, it must play out in its entirety. One cannot stop recording to focus on a specific measure or replay a specific measure. The entire piece is not presented.
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