Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538

The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 is an organ piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. BWV 538 carries the same title as the more famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565, however, is often provided Doric with the nickname - The reason is the for D minor unusual today notation without a general sign that suggests the Dorian mode at first sight leaves.

The two works differ greatly from each other musically. Similarly, the Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562, BWV 538 is almost monothematic. The Toccata begins with a motorized sixteenth motif, which almost constantly continues to the end, and contains unusually artful Concertato effects. Bach listed even keyboard changes for the organist, an unusual both for its time as well as Bach's organ works approach.

The fugue, also in D minor, is long and complex and involves a rather archaic -sounding theme, the distinctive syncopations and three jumps upwards has in perfect fourths. The strict contrapuntal development will be canceled only in the last four bars where the piece with some massive chords over a pedal point on the dominant to an impressive end arrives. The fugue of BWV 538 is very similar to the fugue of BWV 540. Both have a Allabreve - meter, both make use of themes from whole notes and half notes syncopated rhythm with a constant eighth instead of the sixteenth, which are found in most joints Bach; they both include chromaticism, as well as owning an uninterrupted sequence of topics and responses.

Clips

• Toccata: Michael Schneider at the organ of the monastery Amorbach ( YouTube video )
• Toccata: Aarnoud de Groen at the organ of Bethlehemkerk, The Hague ( YouTube video )