The Fugue in G minor, BWV578, is sometimes called the ‘Little’ G minor Fugue, to differentiate it from its more famous cousin, BWV542. Yet this is misleading; BWV578, though shorter than BWV542, is still grandly conceived. The subject is long, highly melodic, and given rhythmic variety: it moves from slow to fast note values. Even the key—G minor—seems to be driven home with more weight than might usually be found in a short fugue: the home key—G minor—is emphasised by an unusual additional tonic entry of the subject at the end of the Fugue’s first section. Yet the Fugue’s weightiness is balanced by a playful quality to the style, compelled by harmonic strength that underpins lyrical counterpoint, a reason that has guaranteed its success in an orchestration by Leopold Stowkowski.

from notes by George Parsons © 2016