Homepage > Musicians Related to C.P.E. Bach > J.S. Bach (Sebastian) > J.S. Bachʼs Fantasia and Fugue BWV 906

This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).

Johann Sebastian Bachʼs Fantasia and Fugue BWV 906

I asked ChatGPT several questions about Bachʼs Fantasia and Fugue BWV 906. The main goal was to clarify its connections to other composers, especially Emanuel Bach and the Empfindsamer Stil (Sensitive Style).

I asked ChatGPT4o: “What composers and musical works influenced Bach’s Fantasia BWV 906, and what composers might it have influenced?”

Bach’s Fantasia BWV 906 (unfinished) is part of his later works and demonstrates the maturity of his style. Here are some of the influence relationships associated with this piece:

Influenced Composers and Musical Works

1. Italian Music

   • Antonio Vivaldi: Bach studied Vivaldi’s concertos and made many arrangements. His influence can be seen in the structure and harmonic treatment of BWV 906.
   • Italian Opera Overtures: Bach incorporated dramatic elements and expressiveness from Italian opera overtures into his music.

2. German Polyphonic Music

   • Dietrich Buxtehude: Bach was familiar with Buxtehude’s music from a young age, and his influence is evident in the polyphonic structure of BWV 906.
   • Johann Kuhnau: Kuhnau’s free keyboard music style influenced Bach’s formal and free development in the Fantasia.

Composers Influenced by Bach

1. Classical Composers

   • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Bach’s works had a significant influence on Mozart. Specifically, the free form and expressiveness of BWV 906 are reflected in Mozart’s keyboard works.
   • Ludwig van Beethoven: Bach’s exploration of counterpoint and harmony influenced Beethoven’s early piano works.

2. Romantic Composers

   • Felix Mendelssohn: Mendelssohn worked to revive Bach’s music, and his influence is seen in his own Fantasias and Fugues.

Bach’s Fantasia BWV 906, with its free form and rich expressiveness, has continued to influence many composers throughout history. This work plays an important role as a bridge between the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “Did Emanuel Bach receive any influence from BWV 906?”

Emanuel Bach (Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach) was greatly influenced by his father, Johann Sebastian Bachʼs music. Specifically, the following aspects of Emanuel’s music show the influence of his father’s works, including pieces like the Fantasia BWV 906:

Specific Influences

1. Improvisatory Elements

   • Emanuel Bach’s works display a sense of improvisatory freedom and expressiveness, which was influenced by the free form and dramatic expression found in BWV 906.

2. Polyphony and Harmony

   • The advanced polyphony and handling of harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach are reflected in Emanuel’s keyboard works. Emanuel studied his father’s complex counterpoint and integrated it into his own unique style.

3. Emotional Expression

   • The deep emotional expression and dramatic elements in his father’s works greatly influenced Emanuel’s emotionally rich music style. Emanuel is considered a pioneer of the “Sensitive Style,” and in this regard, he was strongly influenced by his father.

4. Keyboard Technique

   • Emanuel Bach was also an accomplished performer on the keyboard, influenced by his father’s technically challenging keyboard works, which in turn influenced his own style.

Emanuel Bach deeply respected his father’s works, and while carrying on his style, he created his own innovative music. Therefore, many of Johann Sebastian Bach’s works, including the Fantasia BWV 906, had a profound influence on Emanuel Bach.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “Bach composed several fantasias, including BWV 902 and BWV 906. What distinguishes BWV 906 from other such works?”

BWV 906 is notable for its unfinished structure compared to other fantasias. The piece begins with a brief introduction, followed by a free, fantastical style, but the fast fugue section ends abruptly. Compared to BWV 902 and other fantasias, it emphasizes experimental aspects in both form and technique. Additionally, its handling of tonality and harmony shows Bach’s innovative approach.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “Could you elaborate on the experimental aspects in terms of form and technique?”

The “experimental aspects in terms of form and technique” of BWV 906 can be described as follows:

1. Unfinished Structure

The fugue section of BWV 906 ends abruptly, which is highly unusual. Typically, Bach’s fugues are presented in a completed form, but in this piece, the structure is clearly unresolved. Whether this unfinished nature was intentional or due to an interruption in composition is unclear, but it is innovative in leaving unresolved tension for the listener.

2. Handling of Tonality

In the free Fantasia section, the boundaries of tonality are blurred, and there is no firm development based on the traditional tonic. Instead, tonality shifts constantly. This freedom in tonality contrasts with Bach’s usual pursuit of strict harmonic structures in other works.

3. Freedom in Rhythm

The rhythmic handling in the Fantasia section departs from regular meter and creates an improvised feel. This gives the piece a lively character, as if it were recording the “improvisation of the performer” rather than written music. Compared to the more formalized fantasias like BWV 902, this aspect is very bold.

4. Treatment of the Fugue

In the fugue section, the subject is introduced but quickly ends, and there is no typical contrapuntal development. This brings experimental elements such as repetition in a manner similar to the ritornello form, or a fluidity reminiscent of the rondo form, diverging from the traditional fugue.

5. Connection to the Empfindsamer Stil

The free expressiveness of BWV 906 suggests that Bach, as he approached his later years, began incorporating influences from the Empfindsamer Stil. This style emphasizes emotional expression, and in this piece, the alternating tension and release structures are characteristic of this approach. The adoption of such a style signifies a departure from classical forms, signaling innovation.

Considering these elements, BWV 906 is a work that, despite its unfinished state, vividly demonstrates Bach’s musical exploration and experimental spirit.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “Since unfinished fugues exist in other works, I don’t think this piece is particularly special in that regard.”

Thank you for your point. Indeed, Bach’s works include other unfinished fugues (for example, the final fugue of “The Art of Fugue” BWV 1080). Therefore, it is not entirely accurate to view the unfinished nature of BWV 906 as something particularly special. However, there are specific features that set it apart from other unfinished fugues:

1. Light-Hearted Character of the Unfinished Fugue

The fugue section of BWV 906 is characterized by a bright, clear subject, which is quite different from Bach’s other rigorous fugues. This matches the piece’s free character, and even though it is unfinished, it remains persuasive as part of the whole work. For instance, the unfinished fugue in “The Art of Fugue” is interrupted within a tightly woven contrapuntal structure, while BWV 906’s fugue emphasizes lightness and brightness.

2. Emphasis on the Contrast with the Fantasia

The Fantasia section of BWV 906 has a free and improvisatory character, and the fugue that follows seems to attempt a return to formal discipline. This contrast is emphasized, making the unfinished nature feel surprising and mysterious to the listener. Other unfinished fugues (such as in “The Art of Fugue”) focus on the overall technical completeness, whereas BWV 906 highlights the contrast in expression.

3. Experimental Nature of the Empfindsamer Stil

This entire piece is strongly associated with the Empfindsamer Stil. The free tonality in the Fantasia section and the light subject in the fugue are more focused on emotional expression than traditional Bach works, suggesting an impending shift to the next generation of music styles. Even though unfinished, this incompleteness aligns with the “improvised emotional expression” of the Empfindsamer Stil, matching the piece’s character.

Conclusion

While unfinished fugues appear in other works by Bach, BWV 906 stands out due to its contrast between the light, free fugue subject and the emotional, expressive Fantasia. It uniquely pursues the expressive and experimental qualities of the Empfindsamer Stil, making it an outstanding work despite its incompleteness.

I asked ChatGPT4o: “Are there any other works by Bach that display dramatic expression and emotional richness similar to BWV 906?”

Several works by Johann Sebastian Bach feature dramatic expression and emotional richness similar to BWV 906. Here are some representative examples:

Keyboard Works

1. Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565

   • This work, with its dramatic and powerful prelude, emotionally rich middle section, and grand fugue, is one of Bach’s most famous organ works.

2. Toccata in C minor BWV 911

   • This work, with its dramatic toccata followed by a fugue, is especially passionate and expressive among Bach’s keyboard works.

3. English Suite No. 2 in A minor BWV 807

   • Particularly the Sarabande and Gigue, which are

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