A fugue is at least two (four in this fugue) melodic lines, each layering over the other ones and imitating them, all while revolving around a central theme. J.S. Bach wrote 48 fugues. The “Little Fugue in G Minor” is one of his best recognized.
Will’s hands and feet are all playing separate melodies that intertwine. If you miss one note, it turns into a train wreck as the notes no longer fit into the scheme, like a math problem where the columns don’t line up right! (My way of saying it!)
At the beginning of his compositions, Bach would write the initials J.J. for “Jesu Juva” (help me, Jesus.) At the end, he wrote the initials “S.D.G.” for Soli Deo Gloria” (to God alone be glory.) The brilliance of Bach’s genius has come down to us through the centuries and will live on as each new generation raises musicians to master his music. And, as Bach knew, God deserves all the glory as the complexity and beauty of the music could only have come from Him.
P.S. I wanted to add that so many times in the last year and a half since Will began organ, God has used his music to lift our hearts. The music is a constant reminder to me that God gives light in darkness, beauty for ashes, joy in the middle of sorrow. I remember one time last year when Will and Tom came home with a digital recording of them playing together for the first time. It was like a shaft of light in a very dark place. Through that glorious music, God reminded me that He was there, that He was the author of that beauty and that He would meet our needs. And He does so every day.

8 comments
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August 14, 2012 at 14:25
Marlene Gilman
Thank you so much for sharing Will’s music with us. It is always so wonderful and uplifting.
August 15, 2012 at 23:19
Rose
So beautiful! Great job, William!
August 16, 2012 at 00:19
Linda M.
I am pretty ignorant when it comes to Bach. Do you know if he was a Christian?
I remember my dad playing that.
I recon it would help a bit if a person is ambidextrous right?? lol. It’s like having a dichotomous tune that your brain has to put together..
How do you do it William? You are incredible and gifted by the Lord. Not that He just plopped it in your lap but that he has so blessed you in your learning and skills with the organ..
Accolade !!
August 16, 2012 at 00:27
Ingrid Schlueter
Hi Linda, thanks for the kind comments about Will. As for Bach and his beliefs, here is an interesting piece from Christianity today that will answer your question. Much has been written on Bach and his biblical theology, but this little piece sums it up well. \
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/musiciansartistsandwriters/bach.html
Christian so-called worship has come a long way since the days of Bach’s Scripture laden cantatas. NewSpring Church featured Nothing But a Good Time by Poison two Sunday’s ago as you can see in this church posted video.
August 16, 2012 at 23:42
Linda M.
Thanks Ingrid for the article. that’s quite fascinating of Bach..
yes, I came across an article that has spoken of the narcissism of our culture in our music -so called worship songs.
An excellent study of worship by a Lutheran woman, Marva J. Dawn called “Reaching Out without Dumbing Down” which is actually about worship. She makes the chief point that much of what we call worship today is not worship at all but is instead a glorification of ourselves.
Example she gives:
“I will celebrate, sing unto the Lord.
I will sing to God a new song. (repeat)
I will praise God, I will song to God a new song. (repeat)
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
I will sing to God a new song. (repeat)
I will celebrate, sing unto the Lord.
I will sing to God a new song. (repeat) (repeat all)”
“It’s a fair example of what we hear in many church services. The chorus seems to be praising God—it claims to be praising him—but that is the one thing it does not actually do. As Dawn points out, “The verbs say “I will” but in this song I don’t, because although God is mentioned as the recipient of my praise and singing, the song never says a single thing about or to God.”
What is the song about then? If we look at it carefully the answer is clear. With all the repeats, “I” is the subject twenty-eight times, not God, but “I’ myself. And ot even myself along with other members of the covenant community, just “I.” With that kind of focus,” says Dawn, “we might suppose that all the ‘hallelujahs’ are praising how good I am…. At celebrating and singing.”
What is this but narcissism, an absorption with ourselves which is absorbed in our worship services, as we seem to be, it can only mean that we are worldly in our worship, and not spiritual as we ignorantly suppose.”
August 17, 2012 at 00:39
carolyn
Just a thought: There’s nothing wrong with lyrics that say “I will praise the Lord” – the Psalms are replete with them. However, I would agree, those type lyrics are probably best in combination with some lovely descriptions of who God is, as in the Psalms. However, any song can be sung narcissistically, lyrics notwithstanding. Only God know the motives of the heart. Sometimes they come out in our words, sometimes not, though.
Valid worship can be varied. In the sermon Spirit Filled Music (90-377), John MacArthur did a nice job of breaking down what Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs are as per Colossians 3:16:
“Psalms, psalmos, could refer to the Old Testament Psalms, or any of those anthems that are directed at the greatness and the glory of the Trinity.
Hymns, humnos, means a song of praise and generally related to salvation. …
And then you have spiritual songs, what are they? Likely referring to personal testimony.”
August 17, 2012 at 03:40
Florence
Thanks for the great thoughts and great music. I loved it so much I re-posted on my blog.
August 17, 2012 at 12:13
Bobby
The First Person perspective is the standard in the Michael Jackson Library’s “worship” tunes. That seemingly is dominant.