Since its appearance in 1725, it has been used by and has directly influenced the work of many of the greatest composers. J. S. Bach held it in high esteem, Leopold Mozart trained his famous son from its pages, Haydn worked out every lesson with meticulous care, and Beethoven condensed it into an ab[...]

Opening with a comprehensive historical survey of writings on the fugue from the beginning of fugal teaching (circa 1350) to the present, this text also explores four 18th-century studies which are its classical presentations: "Steps to Parnassus, " J. J. Fux (1725), "A Treatise on Fugue, " W. F. Ma[...]