About Fugue
About fugue, I want to ask that is the piece need to contain a little staccato in every note. Please answer this question if you’re free.
My piano teacher said that fugue in G (ABRSM Grade 6 A:2) need a little staccato in every note, but I can’t hear any in YouTube videos. Really thanks for your answer.
Comments
The scope and range of styles of fugues from the early Baroque to the twentieth century covers every feeling and mood of which music is capable; the first book of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier alone demonstrates this adequately. I don't know what "Fugue in G ABRSM Grade 6 A-2" is. The idea that any performance advice beyond playing accurately, cleanly, and distinctly is broadly applicable to such a broad genre makes no sense to me, for what my opinion is worth. Others may differ, and if I am misunderstanding your question, please forgive me.
(JSB Prelude and Fuge in G BWV 902)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZDnbMdao3g
In reply to (JSB Prelude and Fuge in G… by underquark
Ah, thanks. For that fugue, yes, I would say some detached, quasi-staccato articulation in both hands would be appropriate, but this by no means applies to all fugues -- it's because of the texture and materials here, not because of it being a fugue. The cited YouTube reflects that.
The keyboard instruments Bach wrote for were not the modern piano, and in general it is true that most of the keyboard instruments other than organ would have a more percussive attack and shorter sustain than a modern piano. Some may indeed choose to try to mimic this on piano by playing with a bit of separation, Others simply let the piano be a piano.
In reply to The keyboard instruments… by Marc Sabatella
Yet, if I were asked about playing slower stile antico fugues such as E major Book II or Bb minor Book 1, I would not advise a staccato approach (but "legato" is not the same thing as "not staccato").
In reply to Yet, if I were asked about… by [DELETED] 1831606
Same. It's situational and subjective to be sure. Just trying to provide some context for understanding something of what the OP might have heard.
I got bored binge-watching Gotham this evening so knocked this out (please report any errors). Without any staccato the quavers sound a bit muddy. The older pianos were a bit more percussive.