Schumann: Fugue, Op. 60, No. 1 for French Horn Quartet | Arr. James M. Guthrie

Schumann: Fugue No. 1 on B–A–C–H, from Six Fugues, Op. 60, arranged for French horn quartet by James M. Guthrie. Explore French horn chamber music, horn-quartet repertoire, Music of Schumann, and sheet music information below. https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/I... https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/pro... Robert Schumann (1810–1856) Fugue No. 1 on B–A–C–H, from Six Fugues, Op. 60 Arranged for French horn quartet Robert Schumann’s first fugue on the name BACH transforms four notes into a tribute to one of his most important musical models. Composed in 1845 as the opening of his Six Fugues on the Name BACH, Op. 60, the work was originally intended for organ or pedal piano—a piano equipped with a pedal keyboard. Its musical starting point is Bach’s surname: in German notation, B denotes B-flat, and H denotes B-natural, producing the sequence B-flat–A–C–B-natural. These four closely spaced notes provide the seed from which Schumann develops his contrapuntal homage. The fugue begins slowly and reflectively, allowing its subject to emerge with quiet gravity. As successive voices enter, the musical texture deepens, combining the discipline of Bach-inspired counterpoint with Schumann’s Romantic expressiveness. What begins as contemplation gradually gathers momentum and strength, building toward a forceful conclusion. In this French horn quartet setting, the musical lines become a conversation among four players. The ensemble’s shared tone color unifies the interweaving parts, while each horn gives the unfolding argument an individual voice. Through this sonority, Schumann’s tribute invites listeners to follow both the independence of the lines and their collective power as they gather.