"For the only way to write one, Is just to plunge right in and write one. So just forget the rules and write one" :) Ok, you probably won't write *good* fugue following Gould's advice, but hey its fun to imagine!
I took music theory first in the tenth grade then repeated it in the twelfth grade then in college. But I had a taste of counterpoint in my Jr year in college. I could not sight-read and failed the piano Proficiency test so I went into electronics. That's all she wrote. 73
How is this an educational piece, a motivational speach, unapologetic propaganda for fugue-writing, an actual university assignment and good music simultaneously?
Fun fact: During my brief tenure as a music major I had just one shining moment of "genius". I wrote a very short, kick ass counterpoint piece for my Music Theory 102 class...my prof actually called it genius. To this day I have no idea what I did and as I am now a historian, I have obviously never been able to replicate it. It's probably a good thing though, because I would much rather be an enthusiastic audience member for people like you, Nicholas, who are actual musical geniuses. One thing I love about this piece of music is the humor you inject in lyrics and staging suggestions. 💕
Thank you so much! That’s great to hear your positive experience, and hey you could always try writing another one! After all, (as the ending of this fugue’s lyrics imply), it’s always better to try to write something and learn from the experience than to never write one at all!
@@NicholasMaMusic Wow! That is incredible alone, not even mentioning the limited rehearsal time. I love watching things like this because it really is inspiring to see a piece that takes a fun concept and makes such incredible art out of it. I'm definitely still pretty new to music theory but now I want to do a little research and write a fugue lol. Thank you!
3:14 feels so emotional. Idek how to express this harmonic beauty. It just feels so good deep within and makes me want to cry.... This is, without a doubt, a masterpiece!! Bravo!!
Brilliant. I love it. It is on the same level with Glenn Gould’s ‘So you want to write a fugue’ and Ben Comeau’s ‘Boris Johnson’ fugue. Brings a smile to my face...
You're a genius, Nicholas! I love fugues, and you've written something better than I ever could. Even when it breaks the 'rules'...your writing is fantastic. I *knew* you were going to quote the 'Art of Fugue' theme when I heard the words.
@@ChristopherNelson42 Most of it wasn't, but the bit in the middle was 100% Bach's "art of the fugue" (as the lyrics hinted). The rest was (as stated in the description) composed by Nicholas for his final project in tonal counterpoint.
I've never listened to a fugue before, so I can't comment on its quality as compared to other fugues, but it sounds brilliant, was very informative, and also everyone sung beautifully (props to that tenor especially).
I've been trying to write a fugue for a while now, but every attempt I've made so far I've given up on. This really gives me a much-needed push to go and do something with my summer break! Thank you
@@NicholasMaMusic it definitely is fun, I like working with dissonance a lot, although it isn’t most people’s favorite, I might end up posting something I’ve done that’s very dissonant soon lol
Man the reference to the Art of the Fugue and the usage of it's subject was great! Really sold it for me I think. Please keep making more music like this!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the art of fugue bits, the combination of the alto subject in counterpoint with the soprano art of fugue quotation was probably my favorite part to write :)
Big fan of the note for the bass section in the Deck the Halls quote modulation timestamp It’s so considerate of the Basses who wish to sing this masterpiece
Hi Nicholas. This has been such an amazing contribution to youtubes fugue-writing landscape. Your inspirations, Gould and Wickham, I have heard countless of times. I am very thankful for what you have done and I am now more motivated than ever to return to learning the art of the fugue. I hope to see more from you and those amazing singers.
That is amazing and somewhat amusing (almost hilarious). Well done! (and you sneaked in the Art of Fugue theme from Bach himself. I'm sure he would be grinning)
Brilliant, sir. Thanks for the reference to BWV 1043, a masterpiece among Herr Bach's masterpieces. It is quite amazing enough to do this at all let alone with such a long subject!
Darn, I didn't notice that the voices came from certain ears, this is legitimately fun to listen to! I actually watched it 5 times now to listen to each voice
just a point you might want to consider. most fugues I see online here are written in the melodic style of Bach and the Baroque. are you familiar with the Fugues of Alan Hovhaness, the composer of over 65 symphonies and a huge array of other works? he writes fugues in a more melodically modern style, and so demonstrates that it can be done. It can be done!! :)
Thank you! And yes I agree, it's fascinating to see how other more modern composers go about writing fugues (like Hindemith's Ludus Tonalis, Shostakovich's Op 87, or the one in Bartok's Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta!)
This is truly awesome! I love how from the middle onwards, when the "how to NOT write a fugue" passage begins, this piece goes instantly into pre-classical / renaissance territory, strongly reminiscent of Monteverdi, Palestrina or Josquin. I think these are the most striking and original parts. Bach is cool and all, but I believe the Bach dogma is still too imposing on contemporary counterpoint writing even 300 years later. Please do more of that stuff.
I'll have you know this had me cackling at 7 in the morning at random and now I'm trying to figure out how to explain to my non musician/composer friends why I'm laughing so hard. That counter point was well on point for what your goals where.
Listened to this yesterday, and it has *thoroughly* wormed its way into my brain (as fugues often do). Thanks for sharing; I really enjoy it! Also, very nice work in splitting the parts left and right; makes it more fun to listen to.
This is very well done. Each voice can be understood both musically and verbally. Its also amusing how its the answer to Glenn Gould's question fugue, so you want to write a fugue...
i got goosebumps! this is seriously amazing, i love glenn goulds similiar composition but i believe yours is so much better! more developed and beautifully composed!
When the art of fugie came in.... Wow. Fantastic and funny as well. Very cool, Bach would be glad to know people were still so influenced ny his best bits.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
i barely know music theory but i really feel like writing a fugue after hearing this
That's awesome! It's always good to start learning now rather than later, so I'm glad to hear this fugue is motivational!
"For the only way to write one,
Is just to plunge right in and write one.
So just forget the rules and write one"
:) Ok, you probably won't write *good* fugue following Gould's advice, but hey its fun to imagine!
@@JT29501 4:45 "Writing a 'bad' fugue is better then never writing one at all"... he's got you covered!
Writing one in first species has many rules. But it's a start. 73
I took music theory first in the tenth grade then repeated it in the twelfth grade then in college. But I had a taste of counterpoint in my Jr year in college. I could not sight-read and failed the piano Proficiency test so I went into electronics. That's all she wrote. 73
This is unironically a masterpiece
Thank you, happy you enjoyed this!
IT FUCKING IS
Come on, Bach is always better than this.
@@sibionic Maybe Bach in the day, but times have changed. I'll get off your Bach about it though, should probably Bachpedal some of what I said
@@elricardodos It's still clever stuff though!
How is this an educational piece, a motivational speach, unapologetic propaganda for fugue-writing, an actual university assignment and good music simultaneously?
honestly this should be used for music composition classes
I showed it to my choir teacher
She said "if only you could sing like that"
How?
@@sofiaspiano7892 🔥
My sister’s music composition class showed them this song 💀
Glenn Gould would be proud.
A bit of augmentation is a serious temptation, as he would say!
The "walk on-stage like a diva" and "in a sassy manner" for the soprano was so accurate x) it's a true masterpiece. Thank you so much.
Fun fact: During my brief tenure as a music major I had just one shining moment of "genius". I wrote a very short, kick ass counterpoint piece for my Music Theory 102 class...my prof actually called it genius. To this day I have no idea what I did and as I am now a historian, I have obviously never been able to replicate it. It's probably a good thing though, because I would much rather be an enthusiastic audience member for people like you, Nicholas, who are actual musical geniuses. One thing I love about this piece of music is the humor you inject in lyrics and staging suggestions. 💕
Thank you so much! That’s great to hear your positive experience, and hey you could always try writing another one! After all, (as the ending of this fugue’s lyrics imply), it’s always better to try to write something and learn from the experience than to never write one at all!
You should upload it!!
please share it with the world!
Can you send me a link to it?
And why are you now a historian? What's a tenure?
This was so good yet confusing at same time I’m thinking a writing a fugue now
Haha love to hear that, definitely go write one! As a certain fugue once said, "now it's your turn, show us how to write a fugue!"
@@NicholasMaMusic LOL- 3:55, after the piano solo
THIS IS AMAZING WTF 😩 everyone sounds incredible but especially the soprano wow
The soprano is amazing
Thank you! It was honestly incredible how quickly they managed to learn the piece and put it together (we had about 2 hours of total rehearsal time!)
@@NicholasMaMusic Wow! That is incredible alone, not even mentioning the limited rehearsal time. I love watching things like this because it really is inspiring to see a piece that takes a fun concept and makes such incredible art out of it. I'm definitely still pretty new to music theory but now I want to do a little research and write a fugue lol. Thank you!
I now need to see a video of this being performed with all the actions.
"Um... tenor, something's wrong! But let's see what our alto has to say!"
Fuguetastic work 👌
Fuguebulous
You guys should get together and write some fugues.
@@jr2470 that's a fugueiful idea
Thank you Freddy! Yours is also amazing and fun, this truly is an unfuguettable experience :)
The Art Of Fugue reference in the middle is amazing ! 👌
Laughing my ass off while looking at the score with awe. This is exceptionally great!
This is genius !! Exactly the kind of content I love to see from the counterpoint music community ! I’m adding your work next to Glenn Gould’s !
Thank you for holding this in such high regard!
Me too. It is already in my player in the same folder of "so, you want to write a fugue".
Those stage directions make this even better than it is
I'd kill to see this on video
This made me appreciate fugues way more than all my years of piano lessons did
Amazing! I'll to listen it some more times to get everything. That Deck The Halls at 1:29 broke me!
Exceedingly brilliant. Possibly your grweatest work.
It's fuguetastic
Thank you! I had so much fun composing this :)
The singers have such lovely voices. Great musicianship!
3:14 feels so emotional. Idek how to express this harmonic beauty. It just feels so good deep within and makes me want to cry.... This is, without a doubt, a masterpiece!! Bravo!!
Brilliant. I love it. It is on the same level with Glenn Gould’s ‘So you want to write a fugue’ and Ben Comeau’s ‘Boris Johnson’ fugue. Brings a smile to my face...
You're a genius, Nicholas! I love fugues, and you've written something better than I ever could. Even when it breaks the 'rules'...your writing is fantastic. I *knew* you were going to quote the 'Art of Fugue' theme when I heard the words.
I could be wrong, but I, pretty sure this is a Bach fugue that was given lyrics
@@ChristopherNelson42 Most of it wasn't, but the bit in the middle was 100% Bach's "art of the fugue" (as the lyrics hinted). The rest was (as stated in the description) composed by Nicholas for his final project in tonal counterpoint.
3:14 is my favourite moment... the soprano part is just amazing with the others
I've never listened to a fugue before, so I can't comment on its quality as compared to other fugues, but it sounds brilliant, was very informative, and also everyone sung beautifully (props to that tenor especially).
A whole lecture condensed into a 5 minute fugue lmao. Absolutely brilliant.
Nicholas's greatest masterpiece. Added to The List of music to never forget!
Thank you for your praise, I'm flattered to hear that haha!
Bro that was freaking amazing, I felt like my brain was elevating
As a singer I had a stroke while listening to this, well done! But, some parts did mix really well, if only it wasn't how you write a fugue.
Thank you!
For moments like this, stumbling upon a piece of pedagogic genius, I feel grateful for the UA-cam algorithm highlighting this video. Thank you!
Brilliant cameo for the art of fugue subject!
I've been trying to write a fugue for a while now, but every attempt I've made so far I've given up on.
This really gives me a much-needed push to go and do something with my summer break!
Thank you
Thank you! It'll be a productive summer - always better now than never to have this experience of fugue writing!
Brilliant. I wish I had this video 30 years ago when I was a composition student trying to unravel fugues from the literature !!!!
this tiny moment in my life is when id actually like to study music
Haha thank you! And hey now's always the best time to start!
This is amazing, i wanna try writing a fugue but now that I know the “rules” of music theory i have a habit of breaking all of them any time I compose
That's great to hear! It's fun learning the rules but also even more fun to intentionally (or unintentionally) break them!
@@NicholasMaMusic it definitely is fun, I like working with dissonance a lot, although it isn’t most people’s favorite, I might end up posting something I’ve done that’s very dissonant soon lol
its actually like so well written i can't believe how it went as a joke and turned to a masterpiece
You are utterly brilliant, Nicholas Ma!
Proof that you can definitely be clever for the sake of being clever. This is a masterpiece. Hats off.
Man the reference to the Art of the Fugue and the usage of it's subject was great! Really sold it for me I think.
Please keep making more music like this!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the art of fugue bits, the combination of the alto subject in counterpoint with the soprano art of fugue quotation was probably my favorite part to write :)
@@NicholasMaMusic I was hoping for it to turn into a full blown double fugue but even so, it's great!
This is fugueing brilliant
Big fan of the note for the bass section in the Deck the Halls quote modulation timestamp
It’s so considerate of the Basses who wish to sing this masterpiece
Hi Nicholas. This has been such an amazing contribution to youtubes fugue-writing landscape. Your inspirations, Gould and Wickham, I have heard countless of times. I am very thankful for what you have done and I am now more motivated than ever to return to learning the art of the fugue.
I hope to see more from you and those amazing singers.
In love with "a fifth higheeeeer" part (and bar 122 - soprano, of course).
My own compsitions thus far have been fairly simple and strictly amateur, but now I feel inspired to dabble in fugue. Great video!
So beautiful! I need to show my theory teacher this!
Not only is this a beautiful fugue, but an inspiring one too
I keep coming back to this video I can never get enough of it, and I bet that in a year I’ll still come back to it
Brilliant! Love all the different texts, stage directions - and the music itself! Beautifully sung and played too
Wow, you've expanded on Glenn Gould's idea and added humor, with inventive and informative lyrics.
That is amazing and somewhat amusing (almost hilarious). Well done! (and you sneaked in the Art of Fugue theme from Bach himself. I'm sure he would be grinning)
I've been considering going into music as a career/hobby and seeing other people's compositions are just breathtaking...
its giving Byrd's sing joyfully that I had to sing for District Choir and im unironically loving it
Managing to combine great musical skill with this sense of humor is absolutely genius. Nicely done.
Brilliant, sir. Thanks for the reference to BWV 1043, a masterpiece among Herr Bach's masterpieces. It is quite amazing enough to do this at all let alone with such a long subject!
Thank you! It was a fun challenge trying to fit multiple references like the double violin concerto in here, glad you’re noticing them and liking it!
Great piece and congratulations from a Bach enthusiast !
This is so good till a question can be a song
Im amazed
Thank you!
This is actually brilliant. Fantastic work!!
This is gold. Really enjoyed that!
Darn, I didn't notice that the voices came from certain ears, this is legitimately fun to listen to!
I actually watched it 5 times now to listen to each voice
Left to right: soprano, bass, alto, tenor (I think- I might have gotten alto and tenor switched)
This is so much nicer , and more satisfying, as well as funny, than the Fugue that Glen Gould performed "so you want to write a fugue".
Love this😄 as someone who has played the Bach Double sooo many times it made me extremely happy to hear the reference 😁
Haha yeah the Bach is such a great piece!
The part "I want to write a double violin concerto instead" is the best! 😂😂
Bravo. Really, truly, bravo. This is genius.
Omg
I must say you are a genius
Damn this is the greatest fugue ever
This is a headbanger masterpiece.
Brilliant! Congrats on this wonderful demonstration!
picardy sent me lmao. honestly picardy thirds sound like satire 90% of the time so that was very fitting hahaha.
@TheLauroth i know technically not, i just think theyre goofy so i found it fitting
Thank you! It definitely was a fun way to end such a piece haha
just a point you might want to consider. most fugues I see online here are written in the melodic style of Bach and the Baroque.
are you familiar with the Fugues of Alan Hovhaness, the composer of over 65 symphonies and a huge array of other works?
he writes fugues in a more melodically modern style, and so demonstrates that it can be done.
It can be done!! :)
Thank you! And yes I agree, it's fascinating to see how other more modern composers go about writing fugues (like Hindemith's Ludus Tonalis, Shostakovich's Op 87, or the one in Bartok's Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta!)
This is truly awesome! I love how from the middle onwards, when the "how to NOT write a fugue" passage begins, this piece goes instantly into pre-classical / renaissance territory, strongly reminiscent of Monteverdi, Palestrina or Josquin. I think these are the most striking and original parts. Bach is cool and all, but I believe the Bach dogma is still too imposing on contemporary counterpoint writing even 300 years later. Please do more of that stuff.
It's basically a madrigal at that point!
I for some reason find "Bach dogma" to be unreasonably funny
The sequel everyone asked for from Glenn Gould but we never got! Amazing work, thank you very much for sharing :)
Very funny piece and very beautiful
3:00-3:27 I love it so much ! What an amazing work, this is a masterpiece
I'll have you know this had me cackling at 7 in the morning at random and now I'm trying to figure out how to explain to my non musician/composer friends why I'm laughing so hard. That counter point was well on point for what your goals where.
this feels like Freddy Wickham's "Ontological Fugue" but even better
Listened to this yesterday, and it has *thoroughly* wormed its way into my brain (as fugues often do). Thanks for sharing; I really enjoy it!
Also, very nice work in splitting the parts left and right; makes it more fun to listen to.
I'm back, and "deck the halls with boughs of holly, we are now in another key!" is definitely one of my favorite musical phrases ever
UA-cam starts mocking me. best Video in a long time. Bravo. and thanks.
This is why AI can never replace music composers
this was written by a human.
@@daniel-rs3go I think that's their point; AI could never make anything as incredible as this masterpiece.
Picardy ending for the tenor 🤣 Bravo!!
This was so great but I had to pause because I couldn't stop laughing at "deck the halls with boughs of holly"
This was incredibly beautiful and funny at the same time! Very well done!
This is very well done. Each voice can be understood both musically and verbally. Its also amusing how its the answer to Glenn Gould's question fugue, so you want to write a fugue...
Es ist so wunderschön.
It's so beautiful.
I wish you all the best for your future musical career. I don't know many with such talent.
i got goosebumps! this is seriously amazing, i love glenn goulds similiar composition but i believe yours is so much better! more developed and beautifully composed!
I bet Gould would be proud of this, great job!
When the art of fugie came in.... Wow. Fantastic and funny as well. Very cool, Bach would be glad to know people were still so influenced ny his best bits.
Petition to make this a full video with real singers following the directives😂
Beautiful! Well done!
It's fuguetastic
@@sofiaspiano7892 Haha so true!
@@BlackHermit the soprano was so good
Thank you!
Well that brought back traumatic memories of harmony and counterpoint classes at university 😂
The theme is stuck in my head now😂 I really need to see a performance of this piece!
HOOOW DO YOU WRITE A FUUUUGUE??
Lovely tenor voice in this. Quality of his first entry took me by surprise!
Such wonderful simple intricacy. Good for the mind, good for the heart.
oh i loved the art of fugue moment so much. thank you❤
It's a lovely fugue - very inspirational.
This is craaaaazy, loved it!
This is a masterpiece ❤
Thank you!
To all those people commenting that it's a masterpiece, I wonder, have you ever heard a Bach fugue ?
@@EugeneOneguine yes, and obviously Bach fugues are better but this is an excellent attempt to compose one
First ever self-aware Fugue. Very Genius, Much Polyphonie !!
Bach's been real quiet since this dropped.
Wait until Beethoven hears this.
absolut fantastisch und auf Augenhöhe mit Glen Gould!
This masterpiece is extraordinary!
Well done! 👍
Your work is so amazing, you are a great compositor !!! I like your music ! Great job
haha, this is a lovely fugue :)
Thank you!