Fugues

            A fugue is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a 
      musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches) and 
      which recurs frequently in the course of the composition.
 
           A fugue usually has three main sections: an exposition, a development and a final entry that 
      contains the return of the subject in the fugue's tonic key.  Some fugues have a recapitulation.


        1.  The Exposition  (here is where you know its a fugue)

               The subject (a theme) is played in one key, then the subject enters again after some amount  

               of time (e.g. 2 beats or 4, beats, later) in a different key and a different voice (the usual voices 

               are soprano, alto, tenor & bass, in no particular order).  The second entry is called 'an answer').

               The subject can then follow again in the original key,  but in a different voice.  If that happens, 

               there is usually a second answer in the second key and in another voice.


        2.  The Development  (an section where developments on the main subject happen)

               The development section consists of one or more episodes.  Each episode takes some part 

               of the subject and enhances it however the composer wishes.  Sometimes it is easy to hear a 

               part of the subject in an episode. but sometimes it is not.


        3.  Final Entry / Recapitulation  (the ending)

              A final entry usually restates the subject just once.  A recapitulation usually restates 

             the entire Exposition.



         A fughetta is a part (or fragment) of a fugue, usually just the Exposition.  Often the contrapuntal 

         writing is not strict, and the setting less formal. See for example, variation 24 of Beethoven's 

         Diabelli Variations Op. 120.