Fughettas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Brief musical compositions written in the style of a short, imitative contrapuntal piece ; abbreviated forms of complex works that use fugal techniques
2. Short, structured musical pieces employing the principles of imitation and counterpoint ; condensed arrangements mirroring the essence of a larger, more elaborate fugue
3. Compact polyphonic compositions characterized by mimicking voices and contrapuntal methods ; miniaturized versions capturing the distinct features of fugues

Etymology: "Fughettas" is the plural of "fughetta," a diminutive of the Italian "fuga," meaning "flight" or "fugue." The Italian word traces back to Latin "fuga," which carried the same sense of fleeing or escape, and in music it came to describe a piece in which a single theme chases itself through successive voices, each entering in turn like a runner pursued by the last. The "-etta" ending is the Italian diminutive, so a fughetta is literally a little fugue. Composers used the term for shorter pieces built on the same imitative principles but compressed into fewer bars and simpler textures, keeping the chase of the theme while dropping the length and elaboration of a full fugue.

Synonyms: fugues, short fugues, musical compositions