Fugue terms and definitions

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Subject: the main melodic idea on which the Fugue is based

Answer: the second appearance (or entry) of this idea, transposed to the 5th above.

Exposition: the opening bars in which every part plays the main melodic idea for the

first time.

Countersubject: a melodic idea that is regularly combined with the subject. (can be more than two)

Codetta: a short passage in the Exposition from which the subject is absent.

Episode: a passage outside the Exposition from which the subject is absent (valuable

in creating variety and additional interest)

Stretto: where two entries of the subject overlap.

Pedal: a long held (or often-repeated) note, especially in the bass, over which the

harmony changes – designed to underline the key