Fugue in E minor No. 11.

Having languished through an exasperating episode of "composer's block" for the better part of the summer, I have now finally realized to what extent my creative faculties seem to be correlated with sleep deprivation (one product of which is this latest fugue of mine). For the most part, I had tried to avoid said alterations to my regular sleep schedule since earlier this year, when a series of unfortunate events made me realize just how unhealthy not sleeping for half a week straight could be. However, this also meant that my long nocturnal composition sessions had to be put to an end if I was not to end up in an academic downward spiral capable of ruining my career expectancies.

To be quite frankly honest, I do not know what to make of this as of yet. It appears as though I may have to reach a stable equilibrium of consciousness in order to be able to unleash my creativity without losing my mind to insufficient mental rest. Which, as with any personal golden mean, will certainly not be an easy task in the slightiest.

Anyhow, here's the fugue. Enjoy!

YouTube video link: 

Note: the harpsichord audio file uses an A = 415 Hz 1/5 comma meantone soundfont, as opposed to the equal temperament used in the video. I thought it sounded cool and not that dissonant as in more distant keys, so I decided to include it for some variation.

Hi Pabio @Fugax Contrapunctus,

I like the less thick 3 part fugue texture here without going too thick sometimes. My favourite moment will definitely be b.61 when you go as far as to F# minor with a rare 2 voices texture in your works, as I think you sometimes go for too thick a texture in most of the passages but definitely not here.

10 hours ago, Fugax Contrapunctus said:

Having languished through an exasperating episode of "composer's block" for the better part of the summer, I have now finally realized to what extent my creative faculties seem to be correlated with sleep deprivation (one product of which is this latest fugue of mine). For the most part, I had tried to avoid said alterations to my regular sleep schedule since earlier this year, when a series of unfortunate events made me realize just how unhealthy not sleeping for half a week straight could be. However, this also meant that my long nocturnal composition sessions had to be put to an end if I was not to end up in an academic downward spiral capable of ruining my career expectancies.

I think the most crucial thing is take care of your own body, as without a healthy body you can do nothing, either your study or your composition. It seems unhealthy for a guy like me, who have to sleep before 11 pm every night to avoid headache and dizziness, to deprive yourself of sleeping for so many days straight. Also I think you should focus on studying now prior to composing, since earning daily bread for the future is important for your future composing whether you will compose for a living in the future or not. Maybe you can also compose with less barinpower consuming form other than fugues.

Thx for sharing!

Henry

After a few additional minutes of tinkering with the subject, I ended up realizing I could add at least a stretto for  more variety and complexity, so I edited the reexposition by replacing the previously used E minor epsiode I had copy-pasted for it to fit between the dominant pedal point and the coda with said stretto.

Here's the final result:

(Original without stretto).

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(Revamped with added-in stretto).

Enjoy!

A little big fugue. I too appreciate those parts where the texture thins out and then comes back. I think it allows certain things to stand out and create contrast, while not being too heavy for the listener.