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Rag and Fugue in G major - (2007)
for piano
for David See
This light-hearted theme, beginning at measure 4, begins on the major seventh of the diatonic scale. Continued reference to this scale member continues through the rag, a particularly American form, and subsequent fugue. The theme is a four-measure phrase of two repeating gestures over a simple bass line which descends only to return to the tonic, and an extended "answer" of a mere two measures which simply continues the motive into the next measure. F sharp to E, the beginning and ending notes of the motive, are also the bass lines two non-tonic elements, such that there is relatively little "material" therein.
The restatement of the first section at measure 20 decorates the motive with triplets filling the descending fourth.
The fugue subject at measure 87 -- the simple motive -- is stated with a contrasting single note counterpoint filling in the "missing" eighth note with its non-syncopated syncopation against the motive. At measure 98, the traditional second statement of the fugue subject is in the expected dominant.
The finale to the fugue brings a false restatement of the motive, now begun on G, following that on A and then on B, with the restatement in the tonic -- with the motivic F sharp -- awaiting the elongated restatement at measure 168 in triadic harmony, then again in the bass at measure 172 with a final elongation to the quarter note triplet at measure 178.
David See
David See is adjunct professor of composition and staff accompanist at Middle Tennessee State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Composition in 1979 from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and spent ten years in New York City as a free-lance musician. Residing in Johnson City TN from 1989-2005, he worked variously as collaborative pianist, organist, electric keyboardist and composer/arranger, taught piano at Suzuki Talent Education of Appalachia in Kingsport, Tennessee, and was principal keyboardist with the Symphony of the Mountains. See wrote the background music for the "Don't Touch That Dial!" Radio Theater presentations on WETS-FM Public Radio from 1993-96. His Piano Concerto was premiered by the Symphony of the Mountains (formerly Kingsport Symphony Orchestra) in 2001. Other recent compositions are Theme and Variations for cello and piano, Fresh Suite for Saxophone Quartet, and West End Waltzes.
The score for Rag and Fugue in G major is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano score.
