Fugue in D Minor “Santa Clara” for Orchestra

The Fugue in D minor is a large work originally written for piano in 2014 and currently arranged for full orchestra (as an orchestral instrumentation learning process by the composer) with the assistance of Richard Altenbach. While reflective of Bach fugal techniques, it incorporates more of the complexity of a Busoni composition toward the end of the piece. The motif or Subject of the fugue is eight bars in length. The fugue has 3 Counter-subjects as the theme develops in the Exposition resulting in a four voice fugue. The opening Exposition of Subject and Countersubjects occurs in the woodwinds with the cello entering toward the end of the exposition.

Following Episode 1 the recapitulation of the motif adds a subdominant Subject in place of one of the dominant Subjects. Episode 2 is the most “Bach-like” in terms of the contrapuntal expression. Following Episode 2 the fugue returns in C Major. Episode 3 employs a series of thirty-second note arpeggios against the motif. Episode 3 drives onto a final recapitulation of the primary fugal melodies before a Cadenza, Coda (as a Stretto Fantasia), and final Stretto occur. The piece ends in a plagal cadence with a final Picardy third in D Major.

The fugue carries the subtitle of “Santa Clara” as the composer’s original intent was to have it performed at the Mission Santa Clara at Santa Clara University which has yet to occur. Performance of the solo keyboard piece will require a master pianist or organist.

This fugue was composed for piano from 12 May 2012 through 03 June 2014. Development of the orchestral arrangement occurred from January through August 2017. The piece was premiered with the In Concert Sierra Orchestra on 17 September 2017 with Ken Hardin conducting.