Another day, another P&F, this one in the mind-grabbing key of C# Major — 7 sharps. Bach requires my busy, unkempt mind to concentrate on what I’m playing, and especially to resolve the plethora of double sharps, one of which is visible in the image above (the x). The fugue is in three voices, a welcome simplification of the form except for the complex key signature and it’s four page length. JSB always throws a wrench into what could be an easy P&F. If a P&F is in an easy key signature, he makes it extra long and puts the fugue into four or more voices; if only a three voice fugue, the key signature is a humdinger. Piano teachers mull and agonize such things when choosing a P&F for a student.
I enjoy marking the appearance of the subjects in my fugues, like a crazy crossword puzzle to keep me busy for the next 30 years. I think JSB made a joke at the end of this fugue — the iterations of the subject are rather faithful throughout, but he bends the subject mightily for this last iteration (one could say it’s not really an iteration), and offers the notable eighth-note sixth figure at the end of the subject clearly, especially emphasized by the bar line. Every time I play this long fugue, I hear Mr. Bach laugh softly on those two notes, marked in my score above for your enjoyment, as well.