What is a musical fugue?

   Fugue is a musical form composed in contrapuntal style. It is based upon a short melody or theme which is stated at the beginning of the fugue. In close succession different voices take up this introductory theme and repeat it. The notes of the melody are thus countered against or played opposite each other, forming a rich contrapuntal musical fabric. Any number of voices may be used, but Johann Sebastian Bach, called the greatest master of the fugue, usually wrote in two, three, or four parts, and only occasionally introduced as many as five voices. Fugue is the French word for flight and symbolizes the fugal effect that each reiteration of the melody is fleeing before the next repeat of the theme. The form came into use in the 16th century and was developed by Frescobaldi. Handel's choruses and Mozart's symphonies afford many familiar and famous examples of the fugue.